Pakistan took a significant step toward strengthening its response to marine and riverine litter in January 2026, through a series of consultations that linked community voices with national decision-making under the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project. Implemented by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) with support from the World Bank, these consultations align with the South Asia Seas Programme’s broader commitment to protecting shared marine ecosystems through inclusive, evidence-based, and regionally coordinated action.
On 12 January 2026, a community consultation on marine and riverine litter was held in Karachi, bringing together fishing communities and their leaders, youth networks, civil society organizations, environmental experts, journalists, and informal waste workers. Adopting a source-to-sea approach, the consultation created space for participants to share ground-level experiences of plastic pollution and its impacts on livelihoods, health, and marine ecosystems.
Discussions also highlighted critical gaps, including limited emergency response systems for fishing communities and insufficient awareness of marine ecosystem protection, underscoring ongoing safety and equity concerns. By centering community perspectives, the consultation ensured that local realities directly inform broader marine litter dialogues at national and regional levels.
Building on insights from the community consultation, the National Consultation on Marine and Riverine Litter Pakistan was convened on 15 January 2026 in Islamabad, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC). The national consultation brought together key institutions and stakeholders to strengthen coordinated and evidence-based action against marine and riverine pollution.
The consultation opened with remarks by Ms. Aisha Humera, Secretary, MoCC&EC, who emphasized the importance of strong national coordination across institutions, provinces, and sectors to address marine and river pollution and ensure effective policy implementation.
Mr. Norbu Wangchuk, Director General of SACEP, highlighted the value of institutional leadership and regional knowledge-sharing, recognizing the Environmental Protection Agency Punjab for its strong institutional capacity, policy initiatives, and effective field-level implementation. He underscored the importance of sharing such experiences across South Asia to support collective regional action.
The consultation was graced by the Chief Guest, H.E. Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharral, Minister of State for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, who reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to addressing marine and riverine litter. In her address, she highlighted the need for sustained financing for waste management infrastructure, stronger monitoring and enforcement systems, and the creation of green jobs to support long-term protection of marine and riverine ecosystems while contributing to inclusive economic growth.
Together, the community and national consultations demonstrate a community-to-policy approach that strengthens alignment between local realities, national priorities, and regional commitments under the South Asia Seas Programme. The consultations reaffirmed the importance of community-led solutions, strengthened stakeholder coordination, and shared responsibility in advancing plastic-free rivers and seas across Pakistan and the wider South Asian region.
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