Mapping of Open Burning of MSW in Pakistan & Identification of Underlying Factors & Key Drivers (Workshop Proceedings)

The Circular Plastics Institute (CPI) at KSBL, in collaboration with key academic and institutional partners, convened a workshop to address the critical issue of open burning of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Pakistan. The workshop presented findings from the project Mapping of Open Burning of MSW in Pakistan & Identification of Underlying Factors & Key Drivers, focusing on Karachi and Lahore as primary hotspots. The event brought together experts from diverse fields, including environmental science, urban planning, engineering, and public policy, to analyze the socio-economic, environmental, and infrastructural challenges driving open burning.
The discussions underscored the severe environmental and public health impacts of open burning, particularly the release of toxic pollutants from plastics, textile, and other waste materials. Key drivers identified include inefficient waste management systems, lack of public awareness, weak enforcement of regulations, and infrastructural deficits. The workshop concluded with a set of actionable recommendations aimed at fostering sustainable waste management practices, reducing open burning, and aligning Pakistan’s waste governance with global sustainability goals.
These hotspots- key locations where waste burning is most prevalent were analysed to understand their environmental and health impacts, pollution transport trajectories, and the socio-economic factors contributing to open burning