On World Environment Day 2026 the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, working with Nestlé Pakistan and the Small Dams Department of Punjab, led a large Rawal Lake cleanup that brought together volunteers from schools, universities, civil society and the local community to clear the lake shoreline and surrounding areas.
Volunteers collected a significant quantity of hazardous and solid waste during the Rawal Lake cleanup. Teams reported the troubling discovery of discarded syringes, hospital waste and numerous plastic items, a reminder of
how medical and plastic pollution threaten the lake’s fragile ecosystem and the capital’s water security.
The Director General of Pak-EPA addressed participants and urged ongoing action, saying: “This drive is about more than collecting waste; it is about reshaping our relationship with nature. The presence of hospital waste and plastics in Rawal Lake is a stark warning. I strongly encourage our youth and all citizens to ensure that such activities are done continuously. We must move beyond one-day events to build lasting habits that protect our climate, inspired by nature itself.” His remarks underlined that the Rawal Lake cleanup must be part of sustained stewardship, not a one-off effort.
The Pak-EPA spokesperson reinforced the importance of protecting clean air, water and soil for future generations and highlighted local pollution sources including vehicular emissions, industrial effluents, brick kilns, open burning and uncontrolled domestic wastewater and dumping sites. The spokesperson stressed that nature should be preserved in its original form and called for better disposal of medical waste to prevent public health risks.
As a flagship activity of Environment Week and in line with the global theme “Inspired by Nature, for Climate, for our future,” the Rawal Lake cleanup set a strong tone for continued action in Islamabad. Pak-EPA said it will continue public engagement, cross-sector collaboration with partners like Nestlé Pakistan and the Small Dams Department, and decisive enforcement to protect the reservoir. The agency appealed to citizens and institutions to sustain the momentum and adopt lasting habits that prevent plastic and hazardous waste from returning to Rawal Lake.
