Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

Pakistan

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2023/05/16

Policy framework

National Action Plan

Name:

  • United Nations Environment Programme’s Scientific Advisory Committee on marine litter and microplastics. Pakistan is the member (EPA) of Scientific Advisory Committee working on the “Assessment on Sources, Pathways and Hazards of Litter including Plastic Litter and Microplastics Pollution”. Progress on the Assessment on sources, pathways, and hazards of litter including plastic litter and microplastic pollution.
  • Pakistan is the signatory of Basel convention, As of 1 January 2021, the new plastic waste entries clarify the scope of control under the Basel Convention for other types of plastic waste and mixtures of plastic waste and the specific conditions under which plastic waste is subject to the PIC procedure.
  • To address and reduce marine litter and microplastics, a study has been developed “Marine Litter Action Plan – Status Report”.

Brief description:
The “Marine Litter Action Plan – Status Report” recommends the following short and long term essential steps to overcome this issue of safe waste disposal along the coastal areas of Pakistan:-

  • Promote an integrated approach in dealing with different types of waste with particular focus on wastes affecting marine ecosystem such as plastic debris;
  • Launch marine pollution control programmes with adequate legal cover and policies, and governmental and private enforcement mechanism as building blocks for a successful implementation;
  • Need long term and consistent education and awareness programmes/campaigns for the public, government, NGOs and community groups regarding safe disposal of waste and address the issues of illegal dumping;
  • Develop strong and robust monitoring mechanism to deal with marine plastics debris;
  • Monitoring and Assessment of plastic Waste Management
  • Recycling programmes should be encouraged to reduce the pressure of plastic debris releases into water bodies;

Legal framework
Name:
As a member of Scientific Advisory Committee, key findings of the Assessment on sources, pathways and concern reviewed of marine litter including plastic litter and microplastics pollution (draft) submitted to Marine Litter Team, GPA Unit, Ecosystems Division United Nations Environment Programme.

Brief description here:

  • Sources of marine plastic litter and microplastics, across the lifecycle of plastics and indicating, where possible, the situation in different UN regions. International and transboundary movement of plastic waste.
  • overall trends: estimates of land-based and sea-based inputs of marine litter and microplastics to the ocean, where possible presenting the regional breakdown; impacts of natural hazards and climate change.

In Pakistan, following policies and acts are formulated to address coastal and marine pollution but not exclusively for marine debris issue:

  • National Climate Change Policy 2012
  • National Environment Policy 2005
  • Pakistan Environment Protection Act, 1997
  • The Sindh Local Government Act, 2013
  • The Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014
  • Balochistan Environmental Protection Act, 2012
  • Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2014
  • Maritime Security Agency Act, 1995 (revised 2016)
  • The Sindh Industries Registration Act, 2017 (un-approved)
  • Sindh Solid Waste Management Board Act, 2014
  • National Institute of Oceanography Act, 2007
  • Karachi Port Trust Act, 1886
  • Ports Act, 1908
  • Import order policy 2020
  • Basel convention for plastic waste (transboundary movement)

Brief description:

  • Environmental Governance in Pakistan is being practiced since the launch of Pakistan National Conservation Strategy (PNCS) in 1992 along with its Action Plan in 1993.
  • National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) have been put in place in 1995.
  • To give legal cover to national pollution prevention efforts at national and provincial level, Pakistan Environmental Protection Act was enacted in 1997.
  • However, after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the subject of “Environment and Ecology” was devolved to the provinces. The provincial governments have therefore enacted their own environmental laws and regulations which are being enforced by the respective EPAs.

Indicators
Monitoring and Indicators

  • Monitoring of marine litter and debris, especially plastics, and microplastics in Arabian sea
  • Methodologies and approaches for different sources and sinks, locations and densities
  • Baselines, Data collection and methodologies;
  • Data sharing arrangements and platforms
  • Gaps in monitoring different types of plastic litter and microplastics.
  • Transboundary movement of plastic waste in ocean
  • Technologies for improved tracking for plastic recovery
  • Citizen clean-up programmes and initiatives
  • Increase plastic products traceability, and retrieval at national level
  • Legislation strengthening (imposed ban on polyethane)
  • Analysis of options for material-free solutions to replace the need for plastics.
  • Effectiveness of mitigation measures across lifecycle stages of plastic

Measures

Measures

Achievements

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws)

Names of actions:
Ban on single use plastic bags in various parts of Pakistan

Targeted products:
Polythene and polyethylene single-use plastic bags

Brief description:
Production, sale, purchase and use of polythene bags was banned in Islamabad Capital Territory on 14 August 2019. Fines are imposed on those violating the ban.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Comments:
The number of plastic bags in circulation has reduced. A behavioral change among consumers is on the horizon, whereby consumers prefer to take their own reusable shopping bags to markets/shops.

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system

Names of actions:
Beach-clean-ups is considered to be very important because throwing trash into beaches, and the oceans can be better known as pollution.
Karachi has conducted beach cleaning activity as a Social Project.

Brief description:

  • Under Corporatize sector responsibility (CSR) companies contribute to societal awareness goals, and support voluntarily or ethically oriented practices .e.g reduce, and cleanup activities, like cosmetic companies stop adding microbeads in their face wash products/ toothpaste.
  • Restrict the companies that produce only recyclable product .
  • Consumer Avoid Products Containing Microbeads.
  • Support Organizations Addressing Plastic Pollution
We see a positive improvement from last two years
Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean
Names of actions:

  • Enforcement of Sindh Environmental Quality Standards by SEPA
  • Enforcement of Balochistan Environmental Quality Standards by BEPA and
  • Implement programmes for conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources in order to reduce risks of natural hazards; e.g. reforestation, mangrove plantation, combating desertification, conservation of special natural resources; e.g. wetlands, lakes, reefs, mangroves, and coastal areas.

Brief description:
Section 11 of the SEPA Act prohibits any emission or discharge that may cause adverse environmental effects. SEPA also enforces the SEQS on industries and municipalities. BEPA Act 2012

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Names of actions:
SEPA observed Environment Day by cleaning up sea litter

Brief description:
On World Environment Day (5 June 2021) Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) along with Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan Dockyard and Pakistan Navy cooperated to clean up the litter from seawater.

We do not see any particular trend
Removal of plastic litter from the ocean

Names of actions:
Prime Minister Directive on ‘Cleaning Waterways in Pakistan’

Brief description:
The Prime Minister Office issued directive in February 2021 delegating the Ministry of Climate Change to collaborate with provincial stakeholders to clean the waterways in Pakistan. Action Plan for the said initiative is under formulation by the Ministry.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Comments:
The Action Plan for cleaning waterways in Pakistan is still under process of formulation but will likely have positive impacts on clearing the backlog of pollution and preventing future pollution in waterways.

Measures

Achievements

Promotion of innovative solutions

Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’)

Names of actions:
Integrated Resource Recovery Centers (IRRCs)

Brief description:
IRRCs have been established in various parts of the country. The Ministry of Climate Change is planning to initiate more centers in 10 regions to address the solid waste issue.
IRRCs extract recyclables from the waste and process organic waste into compost, which is then used as fertilizer.

We do not see any particular trend

Comments:
It is still too early to notice a clear trend. Moreover, the projects need to be upscaled to meet the challenge.

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution

Names of actions:
CoRe Group Alliance

Brief description:
CoRe Group Alliance consists of stakeholders from industry, non-governmental and public sector organizations that envisions to create a circular economy by reducing packaging footprint. The Alliance’s commitment is to make 100 percent o of their packaging recyclable and/or reusable by 2025.

We do not see any particular trend

Comments:
It is still too early to see any noticeable trend.

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Names of actions:
Clean Green Pakistan Movement (CGPM)
Karachi has conducted beach cleaning activity as a Social Project

Brief description:
CGPM is expected to change attitudes towards the plastic pollution problem. Individuals, institutions and cities from across the country compete on five indicators namely (solid waste, clean water, plantation, liquid waste and sanitation). Winners get financial awards and recognition from federal government.

International / Regional level:

Names of actions:
‘Plastic Free Rivers and Seas in South Asia’ collaboration with the World Bank and SACEP

Brief description:
The Ministry of Climate Change is collaborating with the World Bank and South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) to clean the rivers and seas of the region.

National level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Comments:
20 cities competed in the pilot phase of the project in 2019. The number of competing cities has risen to 80 in the second round. Several Clean Green Champions have also been recognized and awarded by the Federal Government.

International / Regional level:

We do not see any particular trend

Comments:
The project is ongoing and results will be evident in a few months.

Measures

Achievements

Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter

Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions:
Planned under the PLEASE Project in collaboration with World Bank

 
Engagement in international/regional level actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics
Names of actions:
PLEASE Project in collaboration with World Bank, SACEP and Parley for the Oceans
 

Challenges

  • Recycling system improvement
  • Proper waste management system (including lack of local capacity)
  • Lack of awareness among citizens, business, local governments

Best practices

National level
Clean Green Pakistan Movement is an innovative movement that underpins behavioral change at the grassroo ts level. Citizens, institutions and cities have been empowered to take action to preserve their environment (including actions against plastic pollution). Federal government incentivizes this behavioral change through financial rewards and recognition.

Local level
Integrated Resource Recovery Centers (IRRCs) are locally recycling waste products to segregate plastic wastes and generate compost from organic waste. This is a step towards circular economy.

Private sector
CoRE alliance group formed by private sector stakeholders is a commendable effort to recycle and reduce plastic packaging waste, which constitutes a primary source of plastic in waterways.

International cooperation
The ‘plastic-free rivers and seas in South Asia’ project in collaboration with SACEP, the World Bank and Parley for the Oceans is a robust initiative to address the marine plastic pollution problem in the entire region.

Contact details

Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Climate Change
Director General (Environment and Climate Change)
Muhammad Irfan Tariq: mirfantariq@gmail.com

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