World Environment Day marked

Islamabad:To kick off the World Environment Day celebrations, Devcom-Pakistan hosted the Pakistan Environmental Awards and Conference of Best Practices 2025 under the theme “Beyond Plastic Waste – Navigating Climate and Environmental Risks.”

The Devcom-Pakistan and partners’ event set the tone for an inspiring and action-oriented day. Among the dignitaries that showed up included Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Pak-China Institute and former Federal Minister for Information and Culture, who graced the occasion as chief guest. Also present were Dr. Sebastian Paust, Counsellor & Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Islamabad; Vice Admiral (r) Ahmed Saeed, President of the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA); Dr. Zaigham Abbas, Director of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA); Abu Zafar Sadiq, President Alpine Club of Pakistan, Dr. Mehar Nigar, and Munir Ahmed, Founder & Executive Director of Devcom-Pakistan and the driving force behind this unique initiative. Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI) delivered an impactful speech and praised the awards initiative as a step toward recognising and motivating sustainability efforts in the country. He said: “Beating plastic pollution is not just an environmental necessity — it is a national imperative.

Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said: “To truly attract future-forward investment, Pakistan must integrate sustainability into its economic framework. Tackling plastic pollution is not just an environmental imperative — it's a strategic opportunity to promote green industries, circular economy models, and responsible business practices that appeal to global investors seeking climate-conscious partners.”

Munir Ahmed said: “Plastic pollution is a ticking time bomb for our environment and public health. To defuse it, we must go beyond awareness and embrace practical solutions like waste segregation at source and integrated resource cycling.”

In his keynote remarks, Dr. Zaigham Abbas said: “The corporate sector in Pakistan must acknowledge its outsized role in fuelling plastic pollution through unchecked consumerism and single-use packaging. It’s time for companies to shift from profit-only mindsets to purpose-driven models that prioritize sustainable packaging, responsible consumption, and post-consumer waste recovery.”

Dr. Sebastian Paust, representing Germany, emphasised Germany’s global leadership in climate action, sustainability, and green innovation. He reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting Pakistan through development cooperation and knowledge-sharing on climate resilience.

Other guest speakers included Dr. Mehar Nigar, Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Air University, Islamabad, Abu Zafar Sadiq, President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, while Vice Admiral (r) Ahmed Saeed highlighted the pressing issue of marine pollution and the need for stronger regulation and enforcement in Pakistan’s maritime zones, Dr. Rabia Nausheen, DD (Env) Punjab EPA, Muhammad Ali Naseer, GM Sustainability Capital Smart City, Kashaf Akhtar, Ecoplanter Startup CEO.

The conference culminated in the presentation of the Pakistan Environmental Awards 2025, recognising excellence in sustainability, conservation, renewable energy, environmental journalism, and community-led green innovation. Environmental Conservation in Property Award was presented to Best Western Premier Hotel Islamabad for eco-friendly practices including green roofing, energy efficiency, and paperless operations.

Environmental Journalism Awards were presented to Jamal Shahid (Dawn), Ali Jabir Malik (APP), Afshan Shiraz Khan (The News), Zubair Qureshi (Pak Observer), Aamir Shahzad and Zulfiqar Baig (Express Tribune).