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Plastic crisis has evolved into highly threatening issue

14 0
28.09.2025

By Sardar Khan Niazi

In Pakistan, the plastic crisis has evolved into an almost invisible but highly threatening issue: microplastic particles, smaller than 5 millimeters, are now present in our rivers, food, air, and even our bodies. Initially perceived as a distant danger, microplastics are becoming more prevalent, finding their way into bottled water,
freshwater fish, city soil, and the air in urban areas. However, there is currently no robust policy to monitor, control, or minimize this escalating threat. Both scientific concerns and increasing research on microplastics stand ignored in national and provincial environmental agendas, creating a significant blind spot regarding this urgent public health issue. Microplastics are the remnants of larger plastic waste– such as bottles, bags, and packaging–as well as intentionally produced particles found in cosmetic products, industrial abrasives, and synthetic materials. These particles do not decompose naturally and can remain in the environment for decades, have been detected in human blood, lungs, placentas, and feces worldwide, and Pakistan is no exception. Independent researchers have demonstrated the extent of microplastic contamination in seafood, and drinking water. A 2024 study revealed alarming levels of contamination in freshwater fish. This issue poses real threats to food safety, human health, and environmental integrity, particularly for vulnerable populations who lack access to water filtration systems or alternative protein sources. Although Pakistan has implemented some measures, such as banning plastic bags in certain provinces, these efforts are inconsistent, poorly enforced, and focused primarily on visible litter. Microplastics currently lack a regulatory definition, a monitoring regime, and an obligation for industries to report discharges through wastewater,

emissions, or product manufacturing. This oversight represents a significant policy failure, leaving local governments powerless against a growing contamination crisis. The Pakistan Environmental
Protection Act (PEPA) of 1997 underpins the country’s environmental laws, but it was established in a pre-microplastic era. Additionally, there are no thresholds or testing requirements in the National........

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