Pakistan’s plastic problem is growing at an alarming pace. The country generates around two million tonnes of plastic waste each year, yet only 15-18 per cent is recycled. Without urgent intervention, plastic waste is projected to reach 12 million tonnes by 2040. The consequences of such neglect are already becoming visible in cities across the country. Plastic waste does not simply remain confined to landfills. In urban centres such as Karachi and Lahore, discarded plastic clogs drainage systems, worsening urban flooding before eventually making its way to the Arabian Sea. Over time, larger plastic items break down into microplastics that seep into soil, crops, water sources and even the human body. Meanwhile, the routine burning of mixed waste releases toxic fumes into the air, further compounding environmental and public health risks. Anyone seeking to understand the scale of the problem need only observe municipal workers clearing clogged drains. The volume of plastic waste removed from these drains highlights the enormity of the task authorities face. Since 2020, cities across Pakistan have experienced urban flooding almost every year. Although legislation banning single-use plastics has been introduced, implementation remains weak.
Part of the difficulty lies in the absence of practical alternatives. Many Pakistani cities are largely unwalkable, forcing people to rely on sturdy plastic bags to carry groceries and other purchases home. The rise of food delivery services has also increased dependence on plastic packaging. Poor road infrastructure means that items, particularly liquids, often require several layers of plastic protection to reach customers without spilling. Even air travel reflects the problem: widely circulated videos of rough luggage handling at airports encourage passengers to have their bags cling-wrapped to prevent damage. Each of these everyday practices contributes to the growing use of single-use plastic. There are signs that reform may be on the horizon. According to news reports, food and beverage companies, NGOs, recyclers and leading packaging firms have formed the CoRE Alliance. In 2025, the alliance joined government representatives in calling for a national framework that would shift the cost of packaging waste from consumers to companies. This approach, known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), aims to reduce waste throughout a product’s lifecycle. Under such a framework, businesses would contribute to producer responsibility organisations – yet to be established – responsible for collecting, recycling and safely disposing of waste while adhering to government transparency and safety requirements. The proposal also recognises the critical role played by waste pickers and recyclers, who handle around 40 per cent of Pakistan’s waste and should be treated as frontline partners in any effective waste management system.
Addressing plastic pollution will require far more than isolated initiatives. It demands coordinated action from government agencies, industry and civil society, alongside meaningful collaboration with the informal waste sector. In the past, successive governments have partnered with foreign third parties to tackle waste management, but these efforts have failed to produce lasting results. A more comprehensive and locally grounded approach is needed. Only by bringing all stakeholders together can Pakistan hope to confront its mounting plastic crisis and prevent it from becoming an even greater environmental burden.
