ISLAMABAD: A private member’s bill aimed at regulating the environmentally sound management and recycling of batteries was introduced in the House on Tuesday, despite initial reservations from the government. The ICT Batteries Management and Recycling Bill 2025, moved by MNA Sehar Kamran, seeks to ensure proper management of the battery life cycle, prevent environmental pollution, protect public health, and promote a circular economy. Presenting the bill, Kamran said improper disposal of batteries posed serious environmental and health risks and that Pakistan needed a clear legal framework to meet its multilateral environmental commitments. She noted that private member bills were often resisted on the grounds that the government was already working on similar initiatives, but stressed that the issue required urgent legislative attention. The proposed law, she argued, could serve as a model for broader national adoption, encourage recycling, and enable the recovery of valuable materials from used batteries. Opposing the bill initially, Minister of State Dr. Shizra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal informed the House that a government-led working group had already been constituted on June 2, 2025. APP
