Islamabad, Pakistan has taken a significant step in addressing environmental and climate challenges by becoming the first South Asian country to launch the World Economic Forum’s National Plastic Action Partnership initiative. PM’s Coordinator on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Romina Khurshid Alam, made this announcement during an Earth Day 2024 event at the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (Comsats), in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC and EC).

According to Press Information Department, during her keynote address, Alam emphasized the urgent need to combat plastic pollution as part of broader environmental sustainability efforts. She called on both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, including the academia and the business community, to support measures aimed at eliminating plastic pollution from public life.

The event also highlighted international support for Pakistan’s environmental initiatives, with representatives from over 12 countries, including the ambassador of Azerbaijan, expressing their commitment to assist Pakistan. Notably, Azerbaijan, which will host the upcoming UN-led global climate summit (COP29) in November, showed particular support for Pakistan’s vision of a sustainable and plastic-free environment.

Alam detailed several strategies being implemented under Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s leadership to enhance the country’s resilience to climate change. These include mainstreaming climate change in the national curriculum in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of Federal Education, and forming a committee comprising experts from various fields to tackle environmental challenges.

She also discussed the devastating impacts of plastic pollution on Pakistan’s aquatic biodiversity and public health, citing significant figures related to plastic disposal and its consequences on water quality and public health. Alam reiterated the critical need for global cooperation to address the plastic pollution crisis, which poses a severe threat to both aquatic life and terrestrial ecosystems.

This initiative marks a pivotal step in Pakistan’s commitment to leading regional and global efforts in environmental conservation and climate resilience.