As climate change continues to affect Pakistan, Punjab has taken a new step to help the environment. The provincial government has introduced the Green Credit Programme, which rewards people for returning plastic bottles. This is part of a bigger plan to reduce pollution and promote recycling.
The program is meant to build the base for an emission trading system in Punjab. It also encourages youth, students, women, and the general public to take positive action for the environment. The government has partnered with a private company to install special recycling machines in four major universities in Lahore next month. These machines, made with Chinese technology, will also be placed in markets across the city.
The machines are simple to use. People press one button, insert a plastic bottle, enter their phone number, and press another button. The machine then shows green credits, which can also be viewed through a mobile app. These credits can turn into cash rewards. For example, someone can earn up to Rs 1,000 by recycling 20 large bottles or 40 small ones.
The recycled plastic will be reused to make sidewalks, bricks, and road patches. Even junkyard owners in Lahore will benefit from the program, as they can register through the app and have their plastic collected.
This initiative supports both the environment and the economy, and could become a model for the rest of the country.