LAHORE: As one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, Pakistan has undertaken a range of initiatives to mitigate its environmental challenges. The Punjab government has also launched an ambitious Green Credit Programme for climate change.
This innovative initiative aims to lay the groundwork for an emissions trading system in the province while actively engaging youth, students, women, and the wider community in eco-friendly practices.
A key component of the programme is a partnership with a private company to recycle single-use plastic. Under the agreement, recycling machines equipped with Chinese technology and built locally will be installed at four major universities in Lahore next month. The machines will later be introduced in commercial markets across the city as well.
Designed for user-friendliness, the machines feature two buttons and a dual-compartment system. Users simply press Button A, insert a plastic bottle, enter their phone number, and press Button B. Once submitted, users earn “green credits” displayed on the screen — which are also accessible through a dedicated mobile app.
According to Gulfam Abid, Chairman of the partnering private company, Lahore produces around 500 tonnes of plastic bottle waste daily. These smart recycling machines aim to reduce that burden by transforming used plastic bottles and utensils into usable construction materials such as bricks, sidewalks, and road patchwork.
Abid explained that individuals who deposit 20 bottles of 1.5 litres or 40 bottles of 500ml could earn up to Rs 1,000 in cash through the green credits system.
The programme is designed to benefit not only everyday citizens but also the city’s 18,000 junkyards, which can register via the mobile app to have their collected plastic picked up directly by the company.
The Green Credit Programme represents a step toward building a sustainable, circular economy in Punjab — one bottle at a time.
