Islamabad : As the world observes the International Day of Zero Waste, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman has issued a stark call to action, urging Pakistan to confront its rapidly escalating crisis of plastic pollution and untreated waste. “This is no longer just an environmental issue. Plastic and untreated waste are choking our cities and rivers, threatening our water sources, damaging agricultural productivity, and triggering public health emergencies. Pakistan must treat this as a national emergency.”
Quoting alarming statistics, she noted “Globally only 9% of plastic waste is recycled, but in Pakistan that number drops to a staggering 1%. The rest accumulates in landfills, drains, and water bodies — with the Indus River now ranked as the second most plastic-polluted river in the world. Pakistan generates 49.6 million tons of solid waste annually, increasing at 2.4% every year, while only 60–70% of solid waste is collected and just 1% of wastewater is treated. In the Rawal Dam alone, 9 million gallons of untreated sewage are dumped every single day, contaminating critical water supplies. We’re not just talking about distant ecosystems — this is about the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the cities we live in. The Indus, once our lifeline, is now a toxic pipeline of plastic pollution”
Senator Rehman emphasized that the waste crisis is not just environmental but a full-blown public health disaster. The World Health Organization estimates over 5 million deaths annually in Pakistan from waste-related diseases. In urban centres, inadequate sanitation and blocked drains contribute to repeated flooding, waterborne illnesses, and the resurgence of preventable diseases such as cholera, dengue, and even polio. “Our sanitation systems are collapsing. This is not a problem for tomorrow. It’s a crisis today,” she stressed.
Senator Rehman underscored “Pakistan’s addiction to plastic is especially worrying. The country consumes 55 billion plastic bags annually, with usage expected to increase by 15% each year. Per capita plastic consumption stands at 6.5 kg — the approximate weight of all human vital organs — and over a lifetime, an average Pakistani consumes enough plastic to equal the weight of at least five adults. 65% of the waste that washes up on Pakistan’s beaches consists of plastic bottles, caps, bags, and packaging, contributing to an increasingly toxic environment. Pakistan’s garbage — amounting to 250 million tons — is largely composed of plastic bags, PET bottles, and food scraps.”
Senator Rehman stressed the need to shift the national narrative from isolated bans to systemic solutions. She pointed to global examples such as Canada’s ‘ask-first’ policies and eco-taxes that have proven effective in reducing plastic waste through behavioural change rather than blanket restrictions. “Pakistan must develop its own zero-waste roadmap — one that is practical, people-centric, and phased. We need to incentivise sustainable behaviour and circularity, support local innovation, and build alternative infrastructure.”
Senator Rehman emphasized that homegrown innovation is key to a long-term solution. Countries like Indonesia are transforming sugarcane waste into biodegradable straws — a concept that Pakistan could replicate using wheat chaff, rice husks, or other agricultural byproducts. “The conversation on circularity must now expand to include zero waste as a core principle. Recycling alone is not enough — we must prevent waste before it is created,” she asserted.
Senator Rehman also pushed back on the narrative that environmental reform is a luxury only rich countries can afford. “This is not an elite concern. It’s about public survival and national security. The cost of inaction — from healthcare burdens to urban infrastructure damage — is extremely detrimental to our ecosystem.”
Concluding her statement, Senator Rehman issued a strong call to action, urging all levels of government, the private sector, civil society, and young people to come together in pursuit of a zero-waste future. “Let us use this day ask the real question — what kind of future do we want to create? A zero-waste Pakistan is not a distant dream; it is a necessary commitment to our health, our economy, and our future.”