Gilgit: Nestle Pakistan has taken a significant step forward in its environmental sustainability efforts by installing the first waste segregation machine in Gilgit, under its Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project. This initiative is aimed at enhancing waste management capabilities and reducing packaging waste in the region.
According to Nestle Pakistan Limited, the new segregation machine was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, Abrar Ahmad Mirza, and is located at one of the Gilgit-Baltistan Waste Management Company’s collection sites. It is designed to sort and segregate different types of plastics and paper waste, promoting more effective recycling processes.
Chief Secretary Mirza praised Nestle’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, acknowledging the company’s efforts in advancing the Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project. He highlighted the impact of these initiatives in reducing packaging waste across the region.
Previously, Nestle had installed compressing and baling machines in Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu and placed 122 benches and waste bins made from recycled plastic at key tourist spots. These efforts have facilitated the management of over 6,000 tons of plastic packaging in the last five years.
Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Nestle Pakistan, emphasized the company’s global mission to minimize the environmental footprint of its packaging. “We are accelerating our actions to ensure that no packaging waste, including plastics, ends up in landfills or water bodies,” he stated.
The event also saw participation from Abdul Hameed, Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Raja Nasir Ali Khan, Minister for Planning and Development, and other key governmental and environmental figures. They discussed the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling packaging waste challenges.
Looking ahead, Nestle Pakistan plans to donate an additional waste segregation machine to Skardu and install 100 more benches in the Gilgit-Baltistan area. The company also intends to launch waste management training for the hospitality sector in collaboration with local government and environmental agencies in 2025, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals on responsible consumption and partnerships.