Karachi: Pakistan has called for enhanced global partnership focused on capacity building, technology transfer and finance to enable developing countries achieve ‘Zero Waste’.

“There is dire need worldwide to move towards ‘Zero Waste’,” Ambassador Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan said in statement he read out on behalf of Minister of Climate Change Sherry Rehman at high-level meeting in UN General Assembly Hall marking first-ever International Day of Zero Waste.

Meeting was held to raise awareness of urgent need to transition to “Green” and circular economy that promotes sustainable production and consumption patterns. Move could save governments billions and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. At outset, Ambassador Khan, speaking on behalf of Minister for Climate Change thanked Turkiye for its initiative on ‘Zero Waste’ and in particular, commended Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkiye President, for her leadership on this issue.

“Rising waste is global issue,” he said, as societies have become increasingly consumption driven, excessive consumerism, along with growing population, causes billions of tons of waste to be produced every year.

Pointing out that different types of wasted are generated like municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, Ambassador Khan said their effects vary widely. “Concept of zero waste is embedded in Pakistan’s culture and in our religion, Islam,” he told delegates.

“Yet,” he added, “Like many other developing countries, Pakistan suffers many difficulties due to lack of adequate waste management infrastructure.”

“New policy promotes life cycle approach to manage hazardous waste from its generation to disposal in manner that does not harm environment,” Pakistani envoy said, adding that it would result in strengthening of classification, transparency, institutional frameworks, national action plan and governance infrastructure for regulation of hazardous waste in Pakistan and its international border.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 01 2023

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