RECENT efforts in Geneva by some 183 countries on a global plastics treaty ended in stalemate. There were deep divisions between nations pushing for production caps and those prioritising recycling and waste management. Now, without any consensus, the world remains without a binding agreement to curb the worsening crisis of plastic pollution, which has left not only our oceans and soil contaminated, but also our bloodstreams. Pakistan’s delegation at the conference took a strong line, highlighting equity and justice concerns. Climate Minister Musadik Malik highlighted how it is developing nations that suffer disproportionately from plastic pollution while wealthier states — often the largest producers and consumers — benefit most from green financing. Pakistan pressed for fair access to funds, technology transfer and capacity-building, and even floated the idea of a plastic credits market to support recycling and the livelihoods of waste workers. Furthermore, by seeking to build alliances across the Global South, Islamabad pointed out that poorer countries cannot shoulder the burden of transition without adequate support.

However, Pakistan’s advocacy on the global stage must be matched by discipline at home. While all the provinces have issued decrees banning single-use plastic bags, the flimsy carriers still change hands in bazaars from Karachi to Peshawar. Our understanding of and emphasis on recycling is rudimentary, waste is rarely segregated and collection has become the burden of poorly paid, unprotected waste pickers. The state must prove it means business: enforce provincial bans, punish violators and back the spread of biodegradable packaging. Changing entrenched consumer habits needs sustained awareness drives, while investment in proper garbage collection and waste segregation is essential to stem the tide of plastic litter. Policymakers must encourage innovation in packaging, nurture a viable recycling industry and bring the informal army of waste pickers into the formal economy with protections and pay. Calls for fairness abroad will carry more weight if they are backed by action at home.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2025