Plastic road is the country’s first project of its kind, and it relies on local research and technology to ensure that the solution is compatible with the local environment.
The National Press Club hosted a celebration to mark the one-year anniversary of Pakistan’s first plastic road.
Sardar Saleem Haider, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Anwar Raza, Nurettin Demir, Commercial Counsellor Embassy of Turkey, Barira Hanif, Head Office of Sustainability NUST, and Aisha Sarwari, Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Coca-Cola Pakistan, attended the event.
The company, along with partners Capital Development Authority (CDA) and National Incubation Centre (NIC), inaugurated Pakistan’s first plastic road in Islamabad in December 2021. Over ten tonnes of PET plastic waste were used to construct a one-kilometer road on Ataturk Avenue in Islamabad, providing a practical and scalable solution.
This is the country’s first project of its kind, and it relies on local research and technology to ensure that the solution is compatible with the local environment. The road is less expensive and lasts twice as long as one without plastic. One year later, the road has proven to be repairable and damage-free, allowing the partners to scale the solution across the country.
“Because Pakistan is vulnerable to climate change, public-private partnerships are essential to ensure a collaborative and sustainable impact. Pakistan’s plastic road is a model of innovation excellence, and I applaud the company, the CDA, and the National Incubation Centre,” said Sardar Saleem Haider at the event.
Anwar Raza, President of the National Press Club, also stated that the plastic road has a greater potential for reversing environmental degradation. “We see Pakistan’s plastic roads as an opportunity to help rural development, urban housing societies, and national highways start laying the foundation for reuse. The World Without Waste agenda is part of a global pledge we made to work on projects with long-term benefits that are aligned with local government priorities,” said Aisha Sarwari, Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability.