Islamabad, In an ambitious move to combat plastic pollution, Pakistan has announced plans to establish ‘Zero Plastic Waste Cities’ along the Indus River. This initiative is part of the broader ‘Living Indus Initiative’ aimed at tackling environmental challenges and enhancing sustainability within urban centers.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the announcement was made by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Munir Akram, during an event in New York. The cities targeted for this initiative include Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta. These cities are set to undergo significant transformations to reduce plastic waste and promote environmental health.

Ambassador Munir Akram also highlighted Pakistan’s proactive approach to waste management, referencing the National Hazardous Waste Management Policy formulated in 2022. This policy is a response to the growing challenge of managing hazardous waste effectively. With Pakistan generating an estimated 3.9 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, of which only 25 to 30 percent is currently managed, the initiative aims to drastically reduce the environmental impact of such waste.

A significant concern addressed by Ambassador Akram is the 164,332 tonnes of plastic waste annually carried to the sea by the Indus River system. The ‘Zero Plastic Waste Cities’ initiative not only aims to mitigate this issue but also sets the stage for Pakistan’s support for a comprehensive inter-governmentally binding treaty on plastic pollution. This approach underscores the country’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its role in the global effort to reduce plastic pollution.