Islamabad: Pakistan is producing 3.3 million tons of plastic waste annually, most of which is mismanaged, causing severe economic losses, environmental degradation, and public health risks, Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam warned on Thursday, citing global estimates that put the lifetime cost of plastic pollution in trillions of dollars.
Speaking at a Green Action Week 2025 seminar at NUST, she said plastic pollution’s impact goes far beyond waste, aggravating climate change, contributing to urban flooding, and threatening human health through microplastics.
Referring to a 2021 WWF report, she noted the lifetime cost of plastic produced in 2019 alone was estimated at $3.7 trillion, while UNEP calculated an annual global burden of $19 billion due to environmental damage. Another study found marine plastic pollution leads to losses ranging from $500 billion to $2.5 trillion every year.
“Plastic pollution has become a defining challenge of our era, with millions of tons choking rivers, cities, and marine ecosystems annually,” Romina said, stressing that unchecked, the crisis will worsen biodiversity loss and hinder climate resilience. She described plastic pollution and poor waste management as one of the most serious economic, social, and environmental challenges facing Pakistan.
Romina Khurshid Alam said the government has enacted and begun enforcing single-use plastics prohibition regulations, starting with stringent measures in Islamabad and expanding nationwide. “This ban targets key plastic waste sources such as polythene bags, disposable cutlery, and straws, with strict penalties for violators. Enforcement cooperation with provinces and local authorities is ramping up,” she added.
She cautioned, however, that regulation alone is not enough, and behavioral change is essential to replace throwaway habits with sustainable practices. She underlined the importance of public awareness, education, and community engagement during Green Action Week in promoting alternatives like cotton bags, paper packaging, and biodegradable products, alongside incentives for sustainable manufacturing and recycling infrastructure under the “Plastic-Free Pakistan” campaign.
Highlighting innovative approaches, she said the campaign also repurposes confiscated plastics into useful products such as benches and planters, encouraging zero-waste lifestyles. She urged citizens, industry, and government to share responsibility for compliance and replicate successful models such as Punjab’s plastic ban.
Concluding with a vision for a greener Pakistan, Romina said, “Together, let us turn the tide on plastic pollution to secure healthy rivers, vibrant habitats, and sustainable communities, an investment in our environment and economy that safeguards current and future generations.”
She emphasized that the combined financial burden of plastic pollution—including cleanup costs, healthcare impacts, and climate-related damages—underlines the urgency of Pakistan’s national plastic ban, which is projected to save millions of dollars annually while enhancing ecosystem resilience.
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