Islamabad, June 5, 2025: On the occasion of World Environment Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development, highlighting plastic pollution as one of the gravest threats facing the planet.
In a message marking the day, the prime minister warned that plastic waste has reached “alarming levels” globally, endangering ecosystems, economies, and future generations. “Pakistan is no exception,” he said, acknowledging the country’s own growing struggle with plastic pollution, particularly in urban areas where waste management systems remain inadequate.
Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the urgent need for bold and collective international action to combat environmental degradation. “We must act decisively and together to counter the growing environmental threats,” he said, calling for global cooperation to tackle the plastic crisis and other challenges.
Observed every year on June 5, World Environment Day is the United Nations’ flagship campaign to raise awareness and encourage global action for the environment. While the 2025 theme centers on “land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience,” plastic pollution continues to be a major concern for many countries, including Pakistan.
Despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable countries. The country faces a host of environmental issues including plastic pollution, particularly in densely populated cities, extreme heatwaves and rising temperatures impacting health and agriculture, water scarcity and glacial melt contributing to droughts and floods and deforestation and land degradation, leading to biodiversity loss and reduced agricultural output.
Efforts such as the Zero Plastic Campaign in Punjab, nationwide tree plantation drives, and Pakistan’s commitment to international accords like the Paris Agreement represent steps toward environmental resilience. Yet, experts caution that these initiatives require wider public participation, stricter enforcement, and robust international cooperation to be truly effective.
Prime Minister Shehbaz’s remarks serve as a call to action—not just for Pakistan but for the global community—to treat environmental protection as a shared responsibility critical to the future of the planet.
