The speakers at a seminar said Pakistan’s gigantic annual waste production of 50 million metric tonnes of waste per year is an untapped opportunity to promote waste-to-resource sustainable practices to kick start a circular economy providing lucrative livelihood opportunities to innovative youth of the country seeking employment.
The Institute of Urbanism (IoU) in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Stiftung (hbs) presented a panel titled ‘Circular Economy in Pakistan – The Untapped Potential of Waste to Resource’ at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s 26th annual Sustainable Development Conference (SDC), a news release said.
The panel delved into the challenges and opportunities surrounding waste management in Pakistan, emphasizing the need to transition from a linear model of economy to a circular one. The esteemed speakers at the event shared valuable insights and perspectives on the critical issue of waste management in the country.
The panel brought together a diverse array of experts. Mehrunisa Malik, COO of Saaf Suthra Sheher, discussed business challenges and opportunities, while Farah Rashid, Sustainability Lead at Engro Foundation, emphasized resource efficiency and support for SMEs. Dr Bishnu Raj Upreti, Research Director at NCCR, provided insights into successful circular economy cases in South Asia, and Li Stephanie Choo from ESCAP explored global trends.
Dr Ali Malik, Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, closed the session, stressing the vital role of youth. Ayesha Majid, Senior Program Coordinator at the Institute of Urbanism, presented research findings on waste as a resource, offering a comprehensive view of the current landscape in Islamabad and Lahore.
