Rawal Lake Cleanup Finds Medical, Plastic Waste
ISLAMABAD, June 04, 2026 — A cleanup at Rawal Lake ahead of World Environment Day uncovered used syringes, medical waste and widespread plastic pollution, prompting the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency to warn of risks to public health and freshwater ecosystems.
The Pak‑EPA organised the drive jointly with Nestlé Pakistan and hosted by the Punjab Small Dams Department ahead of Environment Week activities. Students, civil‑society volunteers and local residents collected a substantial volume of solid waste from the lake’s shoreline and adjacent areas, says a statement.
Pak‑EPA officials flagged the recovery of hospital waste including discarded syringes, saying it exposes both cleanup volunteers and the public to health risks and can damage aquatic life. The agency’s Director General, Syed Abrar Hussain urged sustained citizen participation in conservation efforts.
The presence of hospital waste and plastics in Rawal Lake is more than litter as it threatens biodiversity and community health, he said, appealing especially to youth to join future environmental protection initiatives.
The agency’s spokesperson linked the contamination to broader environmental pressures across Pakistan such as vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, untreated wastewater and persistent poor waste management.
Rawal Lake supplies water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi and functions as a popular recreation area, making pollution there both an ecological and a civic concern.
Environmental specialists have repeatedly warned that ongoing littering and untreated discharges could degrade water quality, harm wildlife and increase disease risk.
Pak‑EPA said the cleanup aims not only to remove debris but also to raise awareness about safe disposal of medical waste and the long‑term harms of plastic pollution to freshwater systems.
World Environment Day is observed annually on June 5 to promote global awareness and action for the environment.
