‘Tackling micro-plastic pollution top priority’

Islamabad:Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam on Sunday said tackling micro-plastic pollution was a top priority for the government to safeguard public health and the environment.

“Managing plastics throughout their product life cycle and reducing plastic use while transitioning to a more sustainable plastic economy is vital to reducing micro-plastic accumulation in the environment,” Ms Alam said in a statement.

Referring to a recent study, she noted microplastics were a growing global environmental and public health concern, with Southeast Asian countries having the highest per capita consumption of microplastics globally.

She suggested human exposure to microplastics could be significantly reduced by removing aquatic plastic debris through improved water management and replacing used polyolefin plastics with highly biodegradable alternatives, especially in packaging materials like beverages.

“Our government is committed to implementing a plastic-free vision, with all provincial governments working together to achieve this goal.”The aide to the prime minister stressed the need for reducing plastic use, improving waste management, and transitioning to sustainable alternatives, saying these steps are necessary to mitigate the harmful impacts of plastics on the environment, human health, and the economy.