Islamabad: Participants in an event titled ‘Pakistan’s Roadmap for Plastic Action’ held here on Tuesday highlighted the importance of combating plastic pollution for the well-being of mankind and the environment.
The event was organized by the Council on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) to mark Earth Day 2024.
The event held at the COMSATS Secretariat in Islamabad, was the launch of Pakistan’s National Plastics Action Partnership (NPAP), a government initiative under the Global Plastics Action Partnership (GPAP) under the auspices of the World Economic Forum.
Pakistan’s Coordinator for Climate Change and Environment (CC&EC) Ms. Romina Khursheed Alam graced the occasion as a guest speaker.
This event was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners and diplomats of COMSATS member countries and other countries in Islamabad.
Ms. Romina highlighted Pakistan’s most pressing problem of plastic pollution, especially in urban areas. Given this complex challenge, Pakistan is taking proactive measures in 2019 to reduce the generation of plastic waste, including banning plastic bags and polythene. Citing initiatives such as the Global Plastics Action Partnership (GPAP) led by the World Economic Forum and UNEP, he stressed the importance of global cooperation in the fight against plastic pollution.
He highlighted the government’s commitment to climate change adaptation and mitigation through policies such as the National Adaptation Plan and initiatives such as the Vibrant Indus Initiative, Replenish Pakistan and GLOF-II, which aim to increase climate resilience and protect vulnerable economic sectors and ecosystems. . .
Executive Director of COMSATS Headquarters, Ambassador Dr. Nafees Zakaria, speaking at the opening ceremony on the need for a unified global strategy to tackle the problem of plastic waste, emphasized the importance of focusing only on the source.
Dr. Zakaria said that while the law and policy measures are laudable steps taken, the real challenge lies in implementation due to pressure and resistance from interest groups.
He noted that our planet is not only facing plastic-related pollution, but is also facing many anthropogenic threats, including climate change and environmental degradation.
Of particular concern is the frequent neglect of military actions and justified wars that have not been resolved in international conventions and protocols. Dr. Zakaria said there is an urgent need for initiative and innovation supported by scientific solutions from the defenders of our planet.
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Mr. Hazar Farhavov addressed the event and expressed hope that the adoption of COP29 in Azerbaijan will give a new impetus to climate action and international cooperation by realizing.
He stressed the importance of collective action among various stakeholders, including countries, international organizations, financial institutions and the private sector, to deliver meaningful results at COP29.
Ambassador Farhadov said that according to the order of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has designated 2024 as the “Year of Solidarity for a Green World”. This shows Azerbaijan’s commitment to accelerating environmental protection efforts and combating climate change.
During the event, the NPAP team launched the NPAP Roadmap for Plastics Action in Pakistan, which will be a key hub for collaborative action and innovation initiatives in the industry, delivering tangible and sustainable results. NPAP brings together Pakistan’s leading politicians, business people and civil society organizations to come up with a unified approach.
The program includes several key components, such as building a multi-stakeholder national action partnership to facilitate the implementation of national goals, building a circular plastic economy, and developing a comprehensive roadmap through high-level analysis.
The event also marked the launch of the COMSATS-AGECO joint electric vehicle (EV) project in Pakistan to develop an emission-free transportation sector for a clean environment in the country.
The event underscores COMSATS’ commitment to strong Climate Action and environmental conservation, promoting sustainability, mitigation and a sustainable future.
