IN the last 70 years, the country’s demands for metals could not be met. It is a fact that although we have several mineral deposits, they are yet to be explored.

The entire world is moving towards circular economy. Having no barrier for the primary reserves of minerals by the recycling of secondary and/or end-of-life, waste material at the end of the non-producing country is one of the prime advantages of circular economy.

By moving towards it, Pakistan can do well to mitigate the supply-risk of essential metals in the infrastructure development of the country.

The industrial, electrical, electronic and household waste containing metal body, wires, handles, goods etc., other than the municipal waste in huge volume is a globally recognised problem. Even after the Basel convention, the trans-boundary movement from developed countries to Pakistan did not stop. Pakistan has become the favorite destination for their waste dumping which is not a good sign in the long-term if not properly handled.

The situation in Karachi and nearby dumping and dismantling areas for such wastes is prominent example where public health and the condition of soil and water have been badly affected.

For a country struggling for self-reliance and up-gradation of infrastructure facilities to provide the people a better life, it is time to take a call on changing its waste to wealth.

The global transition from waste disposal to the circular economy-guided waste management can also be done in Pakistan. Even leaders like the European Union, Japan, and the United States are serious about their limited resources and are step-by-step introducing the ethos of circular economy.

The measures that can be taken include taxation on waste generation, penalty for landfill disposal of metal-bearing waste, extended producer responsibility including the payback projects for treating hazardous metals, levy on primary raw materials, taxation on specific products like those generating hazardous metal-bearing waste during manufacturing process, and subsidy for formal recycling of metals, etc.

Dr Sadia Ilyas
Faisalabad

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2018