GILGIT – In line with its commitment to a waste-free future, Nestlé Pakistan has installed the first waste segregation machine in Gilgit as part of its ongoing Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project. The machine was officially inaugurated by Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, Abrar Ahmad Mirza, and is set to enhance the region’s waste management capabilities by facilitating the separation of plastics, paper, and other materials.
Located at a collection site managed by the Gilgit-Baltistan Waste Management Company, the new equipment represents a significant step toward more efficient waste processing in the region. Chief Secretary Mirza praised Nestlé’s dedication, stating, “We are pleased to see Nestlé making substantial efforts to reduce packaging waste in Gilgit-Baltistan, and the progress made under the Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project reflects this commitment.”
Previously, Nestlé installed three compressing and baling machines—one each in Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu—as part of the same project. The company has also placed 122 recycled plastic benches and waste bins at popular tourist sites and distributed 15,000 reusable bags to local communities. These efforts have contributed to the management of over 6,000 tons of plastic waste in the region, helping create a positive environmental impact over the last five years.
Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Nestlé Pakistan, emphasized the company’s global vision for sustainability: “Our aim is to ensure that none of our packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfills, oceans, or other natural ecosystems. To achieve this, collective action through public-private partnerships is essential, focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling.”
In attendance at the inauguration was Senior Minister for Local Government & Rural Development Abdul Hameed, Minister for Planning & Development Raja Nasir Ali Khan, as well as senior officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Gilgit-Baltistan Waste Management Company (GBWMC).
Looking ahead, Nestlé Pakistan has pledged to donate another waste segregation machine to Skardu, install an additional 100 recycled plastic benches across the Gilgit-Baltistan region, and launch specialized waste management training programs for the hospitality sector in collaboration with GBWMC and EPA by 2025.
This initiative is part of Nestlé’s broader efforts to reduce environmental impact in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Gilgit-Baltistan, a major tourist destination, stands to benefit significantly from improved waste management practices as it continues to attract trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts from around the world.
