PM Pledges Pakistan’s Path to a Sustainable Future

PM Shehbaz Sharif is pushing for a cleaner, greener Pakistan by forgoing the outdated “take-make-dispose” mindset and instead embracing a circular economy. On the International Day of Zero Waste, he stressed that waste pollution, particularly plastic and hazardous waste, is wrecking the environment and public health, making sustainable management a top priority.

This year’s theme, ‘Towards Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles,’ hits close to home with Pakistan being a major textile player. Sharif pledged to back eco-friendly manufacturing, textile recycling, and responsible consumerism to cut down on waste.

The government’s plans to implement a “Circular Economy Policy” to revamp waste management, the “Living Indus Initiative” to clean up the river basin, and the “Clean Green Pakistan Movement” to rally communities at the grassroots. Additionally, to reduce single-use plastics, a “Plastic Waste Management Action Plan” is in motion, while also pushing businesses to take responsibility for their product lifecycles through “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)”, cut waste in production and explore green entrepreneurship.

Shehbaz also called on citizens to step up in civic responsibility, recycling at home, composting, and choosing sustainable practices instead. Essentially every stakeholder has got to play their role if zero waste is the goal.