It is ISLAMABAD. The importance of initiating a route toward a solid national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy on plastics in Pakistan was stressed by experts during a National Stakeholder Consultation. According to a news release, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the SWITCH-Asia Programme of the European Union collaborated to host a consultation in Islamabad on the topic of “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Framework for Plastics.”

In addition to generating suggestions that are both inclusive and practical for a national EPR framework, the consultation intended to evaluate the existing state of environmental protection and restoration (EPR) in Pakistan by including a review of regulations, the responsibilities of stakeholders, and the identification of significant barriers and enablers. The participation of stakeholders represented by official authorities, industry, civil society, and the informal sector was a primary focus of the discussion.

Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, who is the Coordinator for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination for the Prime Minister, referred to EPR as a “transformative opportunity” and stated, “It’s not a choice between economy and environment — it’s a strategy to align both.” She went on to say that EPR has the potential to entice investments, generate formal employment opportunities in the recycling industry, lessen our reliance on imported plastic, and improve our competitiveness.


During a meeting with the producers, the Executive Director of the SDPI, Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, advised them to get ready for the impending trade policies of the EU and the UK. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) of the EU will go into effect on January 1, 2026, and the trade policies of the UK will go into effect on January 1, 2027. Under the new global trade regimes, he argued that electronic product registration will be an essential compliance instrument.

Dr. Suleri called for the integration of the informal sector, the launch of national awareness campaigns, and the expansion of EPR to include textiles and electronic waste. He emphasized the importance of environmentally responsible production practices, national recycling targets, producer registration systems, consumer-paid recycling fees, and incentives for eco-certifications.

Dr. Zinaida Fadeeva, who is the team leader of the SWITCH-Asia Policy assistance Component, stressed the significance of policy assistance in the process of formulating national policies for green procurement, sustainable product standards, and circular economy roadmaps. This includes the establishment of EPR duties.

An academic from Sweden named Thomas Lindhqvist, who is credited with the invention of the term EPR, gave a worldwide perspective on the increasing usage of plastic. He brought attention to the fact that EPR regulations in Europe led to improvements in waste management and product design, but in Asia, nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea developed EPR systems that were effective. He made the following statement in response to the inadequate governance: “Governments must supervise in an honest and effective manner.” Without a robust control system, EPR will not be successful.

According to Zainab Naeem, who is the Head of Circularity at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), the support that the European Union provides through its Green Deal and Global Gateway will assist countries such as Pakistan in their transition toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and circular economy. She brought attention to the fact that the SWITCH-Asia initiative, which provides assistance to 42 nations, plays a crucial part in advising different governments on how to implement sustainable consumption and production methods. She gave a comprehensive presentation on the composition of Pakistan’s waste landscape, stating that the nation produces around 49.6 million tons of solid garbage on an annual basis, with plastic waste being a sizeable amount of the waste that is generated in metropolitan areas.