ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Leading environmental experts, policymakers, and private sector representatives have underlined the need for urgent policy reforms, technological innovation, and cross-sector collaboration to combat open waste burning.
They gave their recommendations at a high-level policy dialogue on “Tackling Open Waste Burning Through Policy Reforms” to address the country’s growing waste management crisis.
Impact of open waste burning
Institute of Urbanism (IoU) in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) organized the event which highlighted the severe environmental and public health impacts of open waste burning, particularly in informal settlements.
Around 49.6 million tons of municipal solid waste is generated daily with 30-40 percent remaining uncollected — much of which burned in open spaces, releasing toxic pollutants.
Dr. Ejaz Ahmad, Executive Director of IoU, called open waste burning a “public health emergency.”
“Integrated policy reforms can empower local governments and communities to build sustainable waste systems,” he stressed.
Waleed Hameed, Director at Five Star Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the private sector potential adding waste-to-resource solutions can drive circular economies. “Collaboration is the key.”
Dr. Hamid Iqbal of Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) noted: “Operational capacity must expand to serve informal settlements, where open burning is rampant.”
Dr. Samia Qadeer, Professor at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), said that Pakistan needs a national household waste policy adding academia must support reforms.
Zeeshan Ahmed from WWF-Pakistan warned: “Open burning releases deadly pollutants like dioxins, worsening air quality and accelerating climate change.”
Afsheen Tajammul of 2Insects advocated for eco-entrepreneurship, circular business models and formalizing informal waste workers. The IoU and RAE will compile findings into a policy brief for federal and provincial governments, pushing for immediate regulatory action.
