Pakistan’s first plastic road is paved with recycled plastic

Islamabad: Pakistan’s first plastic road is paved in Islamabad to create a scalable solution for plastic to be used in high-value production. The one-kilometer road on Ataturk Avenue is a project by Coca-Cola Pakistan with Capital Development Authority and the National Incubation Center. This road utilized about ten tones of plastic bottles collected for this purpose and serves as a model for nation- wide practice.
Fahad Ashraf, VP for Coca-Cola Pakistan and Afghanistan said, “This road belongs to all Pakistanis, and all the people who care about progress. We are marching into the next year with pride and humility knowing that we have done a very small part to improve the environment.”
In line with the Pakistan government’s vision for a clean and green nation, Minister for Interior, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, formally inaugurated the road as the chief guest. He said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan has given us the vision to find solutions that serve the common man. I’m happy to say that this road is part of his vision because it provides jobs, saves the government repairs cost and above all, protects our environment.”
The plastic road is a global good-practice and is said to last about twice as long as a normal road. Chiefly, the objective of the project is to protect the environment, but if scaled up to other roads in rural areas, urban centers and national highways, the impact to both development and environment will be large scale, not cosmetic. Parvez Abbasi representing the strategic leadership of the National Incubation Center added, “We have successfully demonstrated a formula that works for Pakistan. Our work doesn’t end here,
but in fact starts here. We now must ensure all partners who are for a better planet step in and support this public-private partnership by doing their part.”
Coca-Cola’s global vision for a World Without Waste emphasizes the reintroduction of plastic waste into the circular economy. An international delegation from Coca-Cola visited Pakistan including Sinan Cem Sahin, VP Public Affairs, Sustainability and Communications, Coca-Cola Eurasia & Middle East and Servet Yildirim, Group Corporate Affairs Director, Coca-Cola Icecek (CCI), The Coca-Cola Company’ bottling partner in Pakistan.
Attending the inauguration, Sinan Cem Sahin noted, “With Pakistan’s proactive stance on exploring innovative solutions for environmental issues, it was fitting that we are launching this solution for the first time as a system here in Islamabad at this historic road.”
Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Amer Ali Ahmed said: “This plastic road project will set the stage for the future of innovation within our joint sustainability drive with the Coca-Cola company. What is particularly exciting is how this opens us up to the possibility of now making this a reality across the nation.”
The event was hosted by leading television anchor and journalist, Juggun Kazim. Also in attendance at the event was Activist for Disability and Goodwill Ambassador to UN Women Pakistan Muniba Mazari,
conservationists who have worked towards a greener Islamabad, journalists and NGOs like WWF and the renowned packaging industry representatives from the packaging industry alliance called CORE.
A ceremonial walk was arranged by students, wilderness experts, people with disabilities, trans communities as well as leaders from the private sector.