Islamabad Crackdown on PET Bottles Draws Concern from Business Groups

Business groups have pressed the federal administration to withdraw a proposed ban on recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles in Islamabad, arguing that the measure could undermine investment and the country's recycling sector.

Key points

• The American Business Forum (ABF) appealed to the interior minister to withdraw the proposal and enforce the ICT Single-Use Plastics Regulations, 2023.
• 218 KG of Polythene Bags Confiscated in Islamabad Enforcement Drive.
• They additionally triggered concern over noted enforcement actions against retailers in Islamabad, including the sealing of a number of outlets.
• The business groups remarked the priority should be to improve waste segregation, collection and recycling, including through producer-funded systems, recovery targets and investment in recycling infrastructure.
• They additionally stated the ICT regulations do not prohibit PET bottles.

Meanwhile, the American Business Forum (ABF) appealed to the interior minister to withdraw the proposal and enforce the ICT Single-Use Plastics Regulations, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) and the Collect and Recycle (CoRe) Alliance separately approached the ministers for finance, investment and climate change, warning that the proposed ban could affect foreign investment and the circular economy. Islamabad Set to Become Pakistan's First Plastic-Free City.

In a letter to the investment minister, the CoRe Alliance pressed the proposal to be withdrawn, existing regulations to be enforced and a predictable environment for businesses and investors to be maintained.

Notably, the groups remarked international frameworks, including the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, focus on recyclability, collection and recycling systems, and extended producer responsibility rather than blanket bans on recyclable PET beverage packaging.

They additionally stated the ICT regulations do not prohibit PET bottles. It they described as food-grade and recyclable, with an established collection and recycling value chain.

As heavier packaging can rise transport emissions and other materials may require more energy to produce, coRe cautioned that replacing PET with materials such as glass or aluminium would not necessarily improve environmental outcomes. 218 KG of Polythene Bags Confiscated in Islamabad Enforcement Drive.

Meanwhile, the business groups remarked the priority should be to improve waste segregation, collection and recycling, including through producer-funded systems, recovery targets and investment in recycling infrastructure.

They additionally triggered concern over noted enforcement actions against retailers in Islamabad, including the sealing of a number of outlets. The groups remarked they had identified no notification from the Capital Development Authority or the Ministry of Interior banning PET bottles, and maintained that PET packaging is permitted under the existing regulations. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest news and stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

For now, islamabad Crackdown on PET Bottles Draws Concern from Business Groups remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.