Pakistan is facing a serious plastic pollution problem, according to WWF-Pakistan. Every year, the country produces nearly 2 million tonnes of plastic waste. Shockingly, around 86% of this waste is not properly managed. This mismanagement is harming human health, the environment, and wildlife.
Out of the total plastic waste, more than 1.7 million tonnes end up in landfills, rivers, seas, and sometimes even in the food we eat. This has made Pakistan one of the top 10 plastic-polluting countries in the world. Most of this pollution comes from single-use plastics (SUPs) like plastic bags, bottles, and packaging. These are used once and then thrown away.
Recycling rates are very low in Pakistan. Less than 10% of plastic is recycled. The rest piles up in streets and dumps, making it hard for waste systems in cities to keep up. One major reason is poor infrastructure and the lack of investment in recycling facilities.
This problem is not limited to Pakistan. Around the world, single-use plastics make up 36% of the 400 million tonnes of plastic waste created every year. These plastics don’t break down naturally and can stay in the environment for hundreds of years.
Plastic packaging, especially the kind that is not biodegradable, is a big threat to nature. It pollutes soil and water, harms animals, and damages ecosystems. Without serious efforts to reduce plastic use and improve recycling, this problem will only get worse. Pakistan needs stronger laws, better waste management, and public awareness to fight this growing crisis.
