WWF-Pakistan's green office network raises issue of plastic pollution
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LAHORE: World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan WWF-Pakistan) held its the 6th annual green office network meeting at a local hotel on Tuesday.
The key theme of the network meeting was to highlight the urgent need to swiftly translate sustainability strategies and the best practices to reduce plastic debris into Pakistan's actionable development plans.
The aim of the event was to turn the tide and solve the excessive plastic waste problems.
The one-day event was attended by corporate partners, public sector leaders, academia and industry practitioners from across Pakistan.
The keynote address was given by environmental lawyer, Rafay Alam, who discussed prevailing laws regarding plastic consumption and its alternatives in Pakistan. Hassan Sipra, Scientific Officer, Centre for Climate Research and Development, COMSATS shared his research on the informal waste sector of Lahore or plastics waste management in Pakistan.
Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF- Pakistan said, "Using large quantities of single use plastics day after day is clearly devastating for our oceans. It is important to start focusing on how to phase out single use plastics in a more sustainable manner instead of only thinking of end of pipe solutions such as recycling or waste disposal. Both governments and companies must to work together to minimize plastic waste."
On the occasion, Begum Zakia Shah Nawaz Khan, Punjab Minister for Environment Protection, said, "Efforts of the government alone cannot have a significant outcome unless the public shows interest and gets involved in reducing plastic consumption. People should shift from disposable plastics to reusable material like cloth bags. If we do not take up this issue now, it will be devastating for all living beings."
Nazifa Butt, Manager Environmental Assessment/Green Office Initiative, WWF-Pakistan said, "Our dependency on plastics has increased over the past decade, it's time that civil society realizes the importance of not using plastics and chooses alternatives. WWF-Pakistan through the Green Office Initiative is also educating the corporate sector about plastic waste and encourages plastic recycling initiatives."
A series of specialist speakers from Engro Fertilizers and Corporation Ltd, JS Bank, and Unilever Pakistan provided insight into their respective plastic recycling initiatives.
