With Pakistan generating nearly 50 million tons of municipal solid waste each year—and up to 40% of it left uncollected—open waste burning has become a widespread, hazardous practice, particularly in informal and peri-urban areas.
This uncontrolled burning not only contributes to environmental degradation but also poses serious risks to public health, releasing toxic pollutants and exacerbating climate change.
In response to the escalating crisis, a high-level Policy Dialogue titled “Tackling Open Waste Burning Through Policy Reforms” was recently convened to chart a path toward sustainable waste management. Organized by the Institute of Urbanism (IoU) with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE), the event gathered experts and stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector to develop inclusive, evidence-based solutions.
Public Health and Environmental Crisis
Dr. Ejaz Ahmad, Executive Director of the Institute of Urbanism, called for systemic change to address what he termed a dual emergency. “Open waste burning is not only an environmental hazard but also a public health emergency. Through integrated policy reforms, we can empower local governments, communities, and innovators to create sustainable waste systems that leave no one behind,” he said.
The informal nature of many communities, particularly on city outskirts, means that standard municipal services do not reach them—creating hotspots for uncontrolled waste incineration.
Role of the Private Sector and Innovation
Representing the private sector, Waleed Hameed, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and New Initiatives at Five Star Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration. “The private sector can play a catalytic role by investing in scalable solutions for waste-to-resource transformation. Cross-sector collaboration is key to accelerating impact,” Hameed stated.
Entrepreneurs and start-ups were also showcased as key actors in transitioning toward circular economy models. Afsheen Tajammul, Startup Lead at 2Insects, underscored the transformative potential of eco-entrepreneurship: “Eco-entrepreneurship has the potential to offer viable alternatives to open waste burning. Startups need an enabling ecosystem that supports circular business models and integrates informal waste workers into the formal economy.”
Read detailed report on Open Waste Burning in Pakistan and its toll on health and environment
Strengthening Municipal and Policy Capacities
Panelists also pointed to institutional gaps in waste governance. Dr. Hamid Iqbal, Senior Manager Operations at the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC), called for the expansion of service coverage. “The operational capacity of municipal systems must be expanded to serve informal settlements, where open burning is most prevalent,” he urged. Academia, too, has a critical role to play.
Dr. Samia Qadeer, Professor of Environmental Sciences at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), stressed the importance of research and education in shaping long-term policy outcomes. “There is a critical need for a national household waste policy. Academia must play a central role in supporting evidence-based policymaking and embedding environmental education into public discourse,” she stated.
Representing the environmental conservation community, Zeeshan Ahmed, Coordinator at WWF-Pakistan, underscored the hidden costs of open burning. “This practice releases particulate matter, dioxins, and other toxic pollutants. The climate implications are profound, and it is imperative that policy frameworks internalize these environmental costs,” he said.
Toward an Inclusive and Sustainable Waste Future
Moderated by Tayyaba Pervaiz, Program Coordinator at IoU, the Dialogue concluded with strong agreement on the need for an integrated, multi-sector approach. Participants advocated for reforms that are not only environmentally and economically sustainable, but also inclusive—bridging the gap between formal systems and marginalized communities.
As Pakistan confronts the dual threats of urbanization and climate change, tackling open waste burning is no longer optional—it is an urgent policy imperative.