ISLAMABAD: After repeated failed attempts by the previous regimes, the current government has again prepared a campaign to clean the federal capital from plastic waste.
With the constant influx of people into the capital Islamabad, the city has become increasingly dirty in recent years, so the government is reorganizing its efforts to make the capital cleaner.
From north to south, there is not a single drain, spring, river plain or water course clean of plastic, as the irresponsible attitude of the masses and city managers has gradually falsified the city.
Today, almost every body of water is contaminated with single-use plastic bags, wrappers from crisps, biscuits, water bottles, cold drinks and single-use plastic cutlery.
Now the situation in the capital is also not much different from other cities where garbage has become a permanent threat to the environment. The biome is repeatedly invaded by formidable tourists who carelessly dump their waste into the natural habitats, threatening wildlife, birds and other species.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Coordination through its Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) is aware of the situation and has re-launched the campaign to ban single-use plastics under its proud slogan ‘Say No to Plastics’. .
“The ministry is spearheading the enforcement of the Single Use Plastics (Ban) Ordinance, 2023, which bans the manufacture, import, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic items,” noted Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) Farzana Altaf . Shah. “This campaign focuses in particular on controlling plastic waste and encouraging responsible consumer behavior.”
She said that under the leadership of Climate Change Coordinator Romina Khursheed Alam, one of our main responsibilities is to keep the capital clean.
Meanwhile, Romina Khurshid Alam in her recent meeting with Collect and Recycle Alliance (CoRe) members also directed to take proactive steps through social media strategies, collection and recycling points and follow-up meetings for effective implementation of single use. Plastics Regulations, 2023.
“Manufacturers, importers, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers of beverages play a key role in implementing the awareness-raising measures described in Section 12 of the Act,” the prime minister’s coordinator emphasized.
Global plastic production for the year has exceeded a whopping 459.75 million tons with a cumulative production of 9.5 billion tons in total by 2019. Pakistan alone produces 3.3 million tons of plastic waste every year, equivalent to the height of two K2 mountains. .
175 countries recognized the urgency of action to reduce plastic pollution and formed a coalition at the 2022 UN Environment Assembly to create a binding international agreement to end plastic pollution by 2024.
“Pak-EPA has already mandated a plan and enforcement teams to implement Single Use Plastics (Ban) Ordinance by 2023 in collaboration and support of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration,” informed Farzana Altaf Shah.
The Single Use Plastics (Prohibition) Ordinance 2023 aims to combat littering and prevent carcinogenic and problematic plastic items from entering the market to reduce adverse impacts on human health and the environment, Farzana said.
The Single Use Plastics (Ban) Regulations 2023 represent a significant milestone in Pakistan’s commitment to environmental sustainability. By taking comprehensive measures to tackle plastic pollution, Pakistan is reaffirming its commitment to protecting the health of its citizens and protecting its natural heritage for future generations.
Recently, the Pak-EPA enforcement team seized more than 0.27 tonnes of plastic bags and disposable cutlery from various markets, hotels, restaurants, retail shops and Margalla Hills National Park in the federal capital.
“The government’s reinvigorated plastic ban campaign has been commendable, but it should have a three-pronged ACA (Awareness, Capacity, and Accountability) approach,” said Resilient Future International CEO Aftab Alam Khan.
He said that when it comes to awareness, there are quadrants of anti-plastic pollution components such as “refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle”. “This 4R strategy is very important because we need to stop the production of harmful plastics and find better ways to meet the masses’ demand.”
Khan noted that awareness is critical for end users, consumers, retailers and manufacturers. The government should provide an enabling environment for the industry to produce cheap and quality reusable products.
He also suggested strict liability and enforcement of the law for manufacturers and retailers and authorities responsible for implementing related laws. “If implementation and accountability are lacking, all efforts to rid society of plastic would be futile.”
The Single Use Plastics (Ban) Order 2023 states that, due to the lack of alternatives and the need to move to a circular economy, single-use plastic beverage packaging will contain at least 50% recycled plastic from 1 July 2028.
It further states that it should be based on the “polluter pays” principle, and that plastic waste can be collected by manufacturers, importers and beverage manufacturers, and recordkeeping and data can be shared with manufacturers and importers of single-use plastics. In this regard, manufacturers, importers, distributors, suppliers and beverage companies may be asked to launch awareness campaigns and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency may impose fines for violations to enforce these regulations.
