ISLAMABAD: The American Business Forum (ABF), Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) and Collect and Recycle (CoRe) Alliance have urged the federal government to withdraw the proposed ban on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottles in Islamabad, warning that the move could undermine recycling efforts, disrupt businesses and discourage foreign investment.
The business bodies have approached relevant federal ministers, seeking a review of the proposed restrictions and effective enforcement of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023.
In a letter to the minister for investment, the CoRe Alliance called for the withdrawal of the proposed ban, arguing that it could undermine the government’s efforts to improve the ease of doing business, attract investment and maintain a predictable regulatory environment.
The organisations maintained that PET bottles are recyclable and already covered under the positive list of plastic packaging permitted by the relevant regulations. They also expressed concern over reports that Islamabad’s administrative authorities had initiated enforcement actions against retailers selling products packaged in PET bottles, including sealing several outlets.
According to the industry representatives, retailers and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in the capital had reportedly been advised, on the instructions of the Office of the Chief Commissioner and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman, to discontinue the sale of products packaged in PET bottles across various categories.
The CoRe Alliance also stated that no formal notification from the CDA or Ministry of Interior had been issued to establish a blanket ban on PET bottles.
The business bodies argued that leading international regulatory frameworks, including the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), emphasise packaging recyclability, effective collection systems, recycling infrastructure and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), rather than blanket restrictions on recyclable beverage packaging.
They warned that the proposed ban could be scientifically unjustified, environmentally counterproductive and inconsistent with international circular economy practices.
Industry Warns of Impact on Recycling and Investment
PET is a lightweight, food-grade and recyclable plastic with an established collection and recycling value chain in Pakistan. Used PET bottles have commercial value and can be recycled into fibres, packaging materials and new bottles, supporting livelihoods in waste collection, sorting and recycling.
The CoRe Alliance cautioned that banning the material could disrupt this value chain and affect businesses and workers dependent on recycling activities.
It also argued that replacing PET packaging with glass, aluminium or other single-use alternatives would not necessarily deliver better environmental outcomes. Heavier packaging materials can increase transportation emissions, while some alternatives require greater energy and resources during production.
The alliance said packaging choices should be assessed through scientific life-cycle assessments that consider raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, collection and end-of-life management.
It called on the government to prioritise improved waste collection, segregation and recycling systems to prevent plastic pollution, rather than prohibit a material with an established recycling market.
Call for Effective Enforcement of Existing Regulations
The business organisations maintained that the ICT Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023, notified under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, already provide a regulatory framework for tackling plastic pollution.
Instead of introducing a blanket ban on PET bottles, they urged the authorities to strengthen the implementation of existing regulations through producer-funded collection and recycling programmes, measurable recovery targets, improved waste segregation and investment in recycling infrastructure.
The organisations also called for regulatory clarity and consultation with industry stakeholders before introducing measures that could affect established businesses and investment decisions.
Industry experts and business leaders have warned that coercive enforcement measures, including sealing retail outlets, could create uncertainty for businesses while failing to address the underlying challenges of plastic waste management.
The business bodies emphasised that a more effective approach would combine environmental protection with recycling, investment in waste-management infrastructure and the development of a sustainable circular economy.
