‘Say No to Plastics’ campaign launched

Islamabad: A drive to stop use of plastics and reduce waste was organised by Comsats University Islamabad (CUI) in the Sitara market area of Islamabad in which over 500 students and faculty members participated.

The drive was aimed at creating awareness among the masses regarding the harmful impact of plastics on the environment and reducing disposable waste as well as mobilizing students towards service of the community.

The activity was organised in collaboration with the Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar, Rector CUI said that CUI has taken up a leadership role in promoting causes of Clean and Green Pakistan.

He said that the university had earlier organized an extensive plantation campaign with the help of local authorities, funds for which were entirely raised by faculty and students. Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar also iterated that plastics contain carcinogenic and neurotoxic substances and contribute towards respiratory diseases if burnt. He said that plastics pollute ground water with toxic chemicals and micro-plastics cause irreversible harm to the ecosystem.

As responsible citizens we should be mindful of the impact of our practices on all living creatures he added. Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar also said that he had voluntarily taken up the task of leadership of plastic free Islamabad through CUI during the recent meeting of the standing sub-committee on climate change, chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed.