Islamabad, On Earth Day 2024, Senator Sherry Rehman, Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), emphasized the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution in Pakistan, highlighting its harmful effects on human health and the environment. During her speech, she discussed the global and local challenges posed by plastic waste and advocated for comprehensive measures to mitigate its impact.
According to Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Rehman pointed to troubling statistics from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), noting that of the 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic produced since the 1950s, 7 billion tonnes have become waste. She underscored the critical situation in Pakistan, which generates 3.3 million tons of plastic waste annually, with a significant portion mishandled, leading to severe pollution in local environments and water bodies. This makes Pakistan a major contributor to plastic pollution in South Asia.
Senator Rehman also mentioned that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination in Pakistan has developed a roadmap for combating plastic pollution. This plan follows the “7Rs” framework: resource, research, responsibility, recycle, reuse, redesign, and reduce, aiming to foster responsible waste management and reduce reliance on single-use plastics.
On Earth Day, she called for united efforts to address these environmental challenges, stressing the importance of raising awareness and adopting sustainable practices to protect the planet and improve community health.