The experts on Wednesday said Pakistan currently faces the formidable task of managing approximately 48.5 million tons of solid waste each year, with an annual growth rate of 2.4 percent driven by population growth and urbanization. It underscores an untapped potential for recycling business to both manage pollution and run a circular economy.
Pakistan’s waste management challenges and the untapped potential of its youth were brought to the forefront in a transformative one-day capacity-building workshop organized by the Institute of Urbanism (IoU) in collaboration with Heinrich Boell Stiftun (hbs), Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) and Green Youth Movement (GYM), a news release said.
The lack of proper waste management infrastructure has resulted in widespread pollution, environmental degradation and a significant toll on public health. The event drew attention to the pressing need for sustainable waste management practices and highlighted the pivotal role of the younger generation in shaping a cleaner and greener future for the nation.The opening address was delivered by Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, Senior Research Fellow at IoU, who highlighted global examples of waste-to-energy initiatives and stressed the numerous opportunities available for youth in this domain.
