As Pakistan tries to fight climate change, environmentalists are warning that plastic pollution is a big problem that could make it harder for the country to protect its forests and stop environmental degradation.
Even though environmental policy and action have come a long way, plastic pollution is still a major problem that makes it harder for Pakistan to reach its sustainability goals.
Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, a famous environmentalist and past Director of WWF-Pakistan, stressed how important it is to act right away to stop the harmful effects of plastic pollution. He talked about how plastic pollution hurts Pakistan’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly by blocking rivers and upsetting ecosystems.
During his talk, Dr. Ejaz Ahmed also talked about how recycling programmes and scientific progress could help turn plastic trash into useful materials, like fuel for making cement and building materials.
The expert also reiterated the harmful effects of plastic on human life and health, citing a number of effects such as endangering marine life, clogging drainage systems, and making health problems worse. Plastic is still a problem in everyday life, from household things to food packaging, even though there have been campaigns to raise awareness and regulatory efforts.
Plastic pollution is everywhere and sneaks up on environments, causing a lot of damage and making it very hard for Pakistan to be sustainable. Over 300 million tonnes of plastic are made every year around the world, and half of that is single-use plastic. This shows how important it is to solve this problem right away.
Some countries, like Bangladesh, France, and Rwanda, have taken strong steps to stop the spread of plastic. However, Pakistan is at a critical point because it has the most poorly handled plastic in South Asia.
Experts say that steps like using a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) to ban plastic bags in important places like Islamabad, Lahore, and Hunza are positive steps forward, even though there aren’t any complete policy frameworks at the federal or provincial levels yet.
Shafee Muhammad Marwat, who is in charge of anti-pollution efforts at the capital’s civic body, talked about how dangerous plastic is for people, animals, and buildings. Even though people have tried to stop using plastic in the past, it is still everywhere, even in food and trash dumping.
Climate and health experts both said they were worried about how bad plastic is for your health, pointing to the rise in lung diseases, cancers, and skin problems. A well-known dermatologist in Lahore named Dr. Shazia Aslam talked about how heated plastic releases harmful chemicals, stressing the need for biodegradable options and environmentally friendly methods.
She said that fighting plastic waste has become an important new front in the fight for environmental sustainability in recent years.
