ISLAMABAD: A clean-up drive conducted by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) on the shores of Rawal Lake has uncovered alarming quantities of hazardous waste, including discarded syringes, hospital refuse, and plastic debris, raising serious concerns about pollution levels threatening the lake’s ecosystem.
The cleanup campaign was organized on Thursday to mark World Environment Day and was conducted by Pak-EPA in collaboration with Nestlé Pakistan, with support from the Punjab Government’s Small Dams Department.
Held under the theme “Inspired by Nature, for Climate, for Our Future,” the initiative served as a flagship activity of Environment Week and brought together volunteers, school and university students, civil society representatives, and local residents to remove waste from the lake’s shoreline and surrounding areas.
Officials said the campaign aimed not only to restore the cleanliness of Rawal Lake but also to highlight the growing dangers posed by improper disposal of medical waste and plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems. As a vital water reservoir and popular recreational destination for the federal capital, Rawal Lake has increasingly been affected by littering and contamination, posing risks to both environmental and public health.
Speaking at the event, Director General Pak-EPA Syed Abrar Hussain stressed the need for sustained environmental stewardship.
“This drive is about more than collecting waste; it is about reshaping our relationship with nature. The presence of hospital waste and plastics in Rawal Lake is a stark warning. Such efforts must continue beyond one-day events to build lasting habits that safeguard our environment and climate,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Environment Day, Sherry Rehman warned that Pakistan’s environmental challenges have evolved into an immediate national concern, affecting economic stability, food security, water resources, public health, and overall resilience.
She noted that Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and emphasized that the costs of delayed action continue to rise.
“Climate change is no longer a future concern. It is already disrupting lives and livelihoods across the country,” she said, calling for urgent and coordinated measures to address the growing environmental crisis.
