‘Plastic pollution a serious environmental challenge’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is producing 3.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, most of which is mismanaged, causing severe economic losses, environmental degradation, and public health risks, warned Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change, on Thursday. She cited 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 extends far beyond waste, exacerbating climate change, contributing to urban flooding, and threatening human health through microplastics.

Referring to a 2021 WWF report, she noted that 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 tonnes choking rivers, cities, and marine ecosystems annually,” Romina said, stressing that, if 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 increasing,” she added.

She cautioned, however, that regulation alone is insufficient, and behavioural change is essential to replace throwaway habits with sustainable practices.