CoRe Alliance Urges Phased EPR Framework, Hands 5,000 Reusable Bags to Pak-EPA

The Collect & Recycle (CoRe) Alliance has urged the government to adopt a harmonized, phased, and inclusive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to strengthen Pakistan's waste management and recycling systems and support the country's transition to a circular economy. The recommendation came during a policy dialogue titled "From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Better Systems in Pakistan," held as part of the 29th Sustainable Development Conference at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Islamabad.

During the session, CoRe Alliance handed over 5,000 co-branded reusable tote bags to the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA). The initiative is aimed at promoting sustainable alternatives and reducing reliance on single-use plastics in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), in support of the Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023. A separate handover ceremony was held a day earlier at the Pak-EPA office in Islamabad, where the bags were presented to Dr. Mohsina Zubair and Dr. Zaigham Abbas, Directors (Lab/NEQS) at Pak-EPA.

Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, delivered the opening remarks, stating that Pakistan's transition to a circular economy requires collective action and strong collaboration between government and industry. She noted that effective EPR implementation can strengthen waste management and recycling systems, promote responsible resource management, and help establish better systems in Pakistan. Amir Mohyuddin, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC), also addressed the session, emphasizing that a harmonized and phased approach with clear responsibilities and coordinated stakeholder efforts is essential.

Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, CEO of CoRe Alliance, highlighted the need for greater industry participation, tax incentives, and easier access to financing to attract private investment in recycling infrastructure. He added that the distribution of 5,000 reusable tote bags reflects CoRe Alliance's commitment to strengthening waste management systems, promoting responsible consumption, and advancing sustainable packaging through collective action.

The session featured a panel discussion with Zainab Naeem, Research Fellow at SDPI; Babar Aziz Bhatti, CEO of Green Earth Recycling and Chairperson of the EPR Committee at CoRe Alliance; and Zia Hyder, CEO of SPEL Group and Board Director at CoRe Alliance. Discussions covered phased targets, shared value-chain responsibilities, industry-led Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) under regulatory oversight, green financing, recycling infrastructure, digital traceability, and the integration of informal waste workers. Namwar Yusuf Rahman, Project Manager at CoRe Alliance, presented a summary of the alliance's White Paper, which was previously submitted to the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination in May 2026.

Babar Aziz Bhatti emphasized the recycling sector's capacity to process significant volumes of recyclable material, noting that proper waste segregation is essential to reducing processing costs and improving the quality of recycled products. The session was organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with CoRe Alliance, bringing together government representatives, industry stakeholders, and other partners to advance Pakistan's waste management and recycling agenda.