LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has called upon every citizen to pledge to eliminate the use of plastic, emphasizing collective responsibility for environmental protection on the International Day of Zero Waste.
In her message on Monday, she stressed the need for practical steps at the public level to reduce waste and promote a cleaner, safer environment. She highlighted that reducing waste, promoting recycling, and adopting sustainable consumption practices are essential to ensuring environmental preservation. She noted that unmanaged waste contributes significantly to climate change, environmental degradation, and loss of biodiversity, making immediate action imperative.
Maryam said that under the Suthra Punjab Program, efforts are underway to transform every city in the province into a zero-waste model. Waste heaps are being converted into green forests and solar parks, while modern electric vehicles and mechanized systems have been introduced to improve waste management across Punjab. She emphasized that banning plastic bags can significantly help achieve zero-waste targets, while initiatives such as “waste-to-value” projects are being implemented to convert waste into energy and other valuable resources. The chief minister reaffirmed that making the planet pollution-free was a shared responsibility and urged citizens to actively contribute towards a sustainable future.
