Spokesman Report
Islamabad, 11 June 2026 – The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding support from The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), are leading a pilot project titled, ‘Promoting Sustainability & Decent Work in PET* Recycling Value Chain’. The Coca-Cola Foundation is providing USD 500K for the project, which aims to strengthen PET recycling systems, advance Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy frameworks, and substantially improve the occupational safety, health, and livelihoods of informal waste workers across the capital.
Under this project, UNOPS Pakistan convened a Multi-Stakeholder Inception Workshop in Islamabad on “Transitioning to a Circular Plastic Economy”. The workshop brought together representatives from the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC), the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), the Capital Development Authority (CDA), and workers’ representatives.
The Minister of State for MoCC&EC, Dr. Shezra Mansab, attended as the Chief Guest, reaffirming the government’s commitment to sustainable waste management and a circular economy. She remarked:
“Transitioning to a circular economy is a national environmental priority, and projects like these are crucial for driving that change. Optimizing our waste management systems and scaling up recycling initiatives are essential steps forward, and addressing the gaps in our regulatory landscape requires strong coordination, collective institutional action, and a unified effort from all stakeholders. Furthermore, raising awareness and ensuring the occupational safety and well-being of our informal workforce must be a priority of our transition as their role is vital to achieving a sustainable future”
During the workshop, Jennifer Ankrom, Country Manager, UNOPS Pakistan, actively engaged in the discussions alongside key stakeholders to unpack the complex realities of the waste value chain. The discussion focused on uncovering critical operational bottlenecks, resource constraints, and the challenging conditions faced by frontline workers. During the technical session, preliminary findings from a diagnostic study were shared, highlighting critical gaps across policy, governance, market systems, material recovery, and stakeholder engagement within the PET* recycling value chain. Participants provided valuable insights and recommendations to strengthen these evidence-based interventions.
With nearly two million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually in Pakistan,[1] this pilot project paves the way for a more sustainable, inclusive, and scalable framework for waste management and recycling at the national level.
