Beyond Borders: UK-Pakistan Partnership for a Plastic-Free Future

Pakistan faces one of the most severe plastic waste crises in South Asia, with over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually clogging water systems and contaminating vital agricultural resources. With 70% of the population lacking access to clean drinking water, plastic pollution is a critical issue that must be addressed. Recognizing this, Cardiff University’s BBSRC-funded Plastic Fish team, in collaboration with Cardiff’s Water Research Institute, has partnered with Pakistan’s National Agriculture Research Council (PARC), WWF Pakistan branch and COMSATS University Islamabad. Through this travel grant, we aim to support our Pakistani colleagues in addressing plastic pollution through knowledge exchange and strategic action. Leveraging expertise from Cardiff’s Schools of Biosciences and Chemistry, the Plastic Fish team seeks to facilitate skills transfer between researchers in the UK and Pakistan. Our primary objectives include establishing a plastic pollution database, forming a steering committee to drive policy changes, and fostering career development for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) at Cardiff. Through discussions with Dr Farrakh Mehboob (Principal Scientific Officer at PARC), Hammad Khan (Director General of WWF) and Dr Haroon Akbar (Associate Professor at COMSATS and member of Cardiff University’s OneZoo CDT), it became clear that Objective 1 of this project is to aid Pakistani researchers in creating a national plastic pollution database. Currently, little is known about the types and distribution of plastic contaminants, particularly persistent organic pollutants such as phthalate-based flame retardants and plasticisers. With the support of this grant, the Cardiff team will conduct field visits to key agricultural and freshwater sites, including areas that supply local populations and export produce globally. This will enable comprehensive sampling and data collection on plastic pollution. Objective 2 focuses on collaboration with PARC, which maintains direct connections with national legislative bodies in Pakistan. Working alongside Dr Mehboob, we will help establish a steering committee comprising researchers, environmental organizations, and policymakers to address the plastic pollution crisis at a systemic level. Led by Principal Investigator Professor Jo Cable, Head of Cardiff’s Organism and Environment Division in the School of Bioscience, this initiative also supports ECR career development (Objective 3). Dr Numair Masud, a Co-Investigator on the BBSRC-funded Plastic Fish project, brings expertise in freshwater plastic pollution assessment and data analytics. As a Pakistani researcher, he will serve as a cultural link between the two nations. Dr Sophie Watson will contribute her knowledge in molecular ecology, advising on the potential implementation of molecular diagnostic tools to enhance biosecurity assessments in Pakistan. We anticipate that this grant will serve as a foundation for larger funding applications to BBSRC or NERC, expanding international collaboration in this critical research area. Aligned with the United Nations’ Global Plastic Treaty’s call for urgent global action, this initiative exemplifies effective North-South collaboration in tackling the global plastic pollution crisis.