Arsalan Ali

Embracing a China-inspired approach holds immense potential for Pakistan to significantly reduce its plastic footprint and pave the way for a sustainable future, experts said. Dr Hassan Daud Butt, Senior Adviser and Research Fellow at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), and former CEO of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade, said while talking to WealthPK that by drawing on China's expertise, Pakistan can effectively tackle the pressing issue of plastic pollution. He said China's recent global development initiative, focusing on biodiversity, climate change, and environmental protection, serves as a valuable source of inspiration for Pakistan.

Dr Hassan emphasised the significance of policy articulation and implementation, where societal factors take precedence, followed by the active involvement of the government and private sector. “This comprehensive approach provides a practical blueprint for our own endeavours to align with global best practices and achieve substantial reductions in plastic pollution,” he said. Underlining the importance of knowledge sharing, creation, and capacity building, he stressed that fostering awareness among government and private sector individuals is crucial for finding effective solutions. “By sharing knowledge with stakeholders, we can address existing challenges and enhance the capabilities of both industry and government,” he added.

Dr Hassan said policy formulation was a phased process, rather than an immediate transformation. He emphasised the pivotal role of the government in incentivising the industry to produce biodegradable plastics from biodiverse material. Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, told WealthPK that circular economy emphasis should be placed on reducing waste and recycling materials to reduce environmental impact. “The importance of reusing products should be emphasised. There is a need to establish an announcement of public and private sector engagement of research and policy to establish their own network on the circular economy,” he said. According to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Pakistan generated around 3 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2022.

Without urgent action, this is expected to quadruple to 12 million tons by 2040. To address this issue, the ministry has developed Pakistan’s National Plastics Action Partnership (NPAP), which is based on landscape analysis and aligned with a circular economy framework. The ministry has proposed five major shifts to minimise plastic pollution. The first step aims to reduce plastic waste and pollution by 34% and substitute 7% of plastics with sustainable alternatives by 2040. Secondly, the plan advocates the redesign of plastic products, with a goal of increasing the volume of recyclable materials by 10%.

The third shift involves tripling the plastic waste collection rate by 2040. Fourthly, the focus is on improving recycling processes and equipment to accelerate the recycling rate by 20% by the same period. Finally, the roadmap proposes expanding managed waste disposal systems to handle 16% (1.5m tonnes) of waste generated by 2040. To promote the circular economy of plastics, the Ministry of Climate Change has undertaken specific initiatives and key activities, including running public awareness campaigns, to educate citizens about the importance of reducing plastic waste and promoting eco-friendly practices.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk