How Pakistan is Confronting the E-Waste Epidemic

APP

Islamabad: Pakistan faces growing challenges in managing its annual 500,000 metric tons of electronic waste, despite contributing less than 1 percent of the global 53.6 million metric tons.

According to Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination spokesperson Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, policies like the National Environment Policy 2005 and National Hazardous Waste Management Policy 2022 are in place to address e-waste.

To manage the crisis, the Ministry has emphasized Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, aiming to improve collection and recycling systems.

Experts stress that adopting advanced recycling technologies, including AI-based waste management, could transform Pakistan’s e-waste challenge into an economic opportunity.