Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, Abrar Ahmad Mirza, recently inaugurated a waste segregation machine to support smart waste management for the Gilgit-Baltistan Waste Management Company.
As part of its Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project, Nestlé Pakistan installed the region’s first waste segregation machine in Gilgit, staying true to its vision of a waste-free future. The machine, located at one of the company’s collection sites, will aid in sorting and segregating different types of plastics and paper waste, promoting smarter waste management practices. Chief Secretary Mirza acknowledged Nestlé’s efforts, stating, “We are pleased to see Nestlé taking significant steps to reduce packaging waste in the region, and the progress of the Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project is proof of that commitment.”
Previously, through the CGBP program, Nestlé installed three compressing and baling machines in Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu. The company also placed 122 benches and waste bins made from recycled plastic at popular tourist spots and distributed 15,000 reusable bags to local communities. Over the last five years, these efforts have helped manage over 6,000 tons of plastic packaging waste, making a significant environmental impact.
Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Nestlé Pakistan, emphasized the company’s global vision: “We are accelerating efforts to reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste. Our goal is to ensure none of our packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfills, oceans, lakes, or rivers.” He added, “Addressing packaging waste requires collective action through public-private partnerships to enhance recycling and sustainability.”
The event was also attended by Senior Minister for Local Government & Rural Development Abdul Hameed, Minister for Planning & Development Raja Nasir Ali Khan, and other senior officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and Gilgit-Baltistan Waste Management Company.
As part of its 2025 plans under the CGBP program, Nestlé Pakistan has pledged to donate a waste segregation machine for Skardu, install 100 more benches across the region, and launch waste management training programs for the hospitality sector in collaboration with GBWMC and the EPA.
Gilgit-Baltistan, a major tourist destination and hub for trekking and mountaineering in the Karakoram range, stands to benefit from these initiatives, which align with Nestlé’s commitment to reducing packaging waste in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 17 – Responsible Consumption & Production, and Partnerships for the Goals.
