A Positive Step to Ban on Plastic Bags Across Pakistan

In different cities in Pakistan, the ban on the sale and buy of polythene bags is being applied to prevent pollution by plastics.

Baluchistan

Quetta Metropolitan Corporation (QMC) administrative Farooq Langove informed that recently 12 plastic warehouse had been sealed in different parts of the Quetta. “Those producing and selling plastic bags were given two months. That deadline has now expired,” Langove added.

He further told reporters that decomposable and eco-friendly shopping bags are being introduced in the city and Private production plants have become operational to produce them.

“Action will be taken against those found to be using plastic shopping bags.” He advised the public to only use recyclable shopping bags as they are environment-friendly.

The metropolitan cities of Pakistan have some of the highest non-recycling waste collection in the world. According to a survey, around 20 million tonnes, with an annual growth rate of approximately 2.4 per cent, are produced annually in Pakistan. More than 9,000 tons of municipal waste is produced daily in Karachi.

Sindh

The Cantonment Board of Clifton (CBC) in Karachi has also banned the use of plastic shopping bags. The CBC has set a date to apply the ban by 30 June. In November of last year, Sindh Cabinet decided in the province to ban the use of polythene bags.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The authorities were ordered on March 6 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by CM Mahmood Khan to ban the use of plastic bags to avoid plastic pollution.

Gilgit-Baltistan

The Hunza district administration has also reduced the use of plastic shopping bags in order to control environmental dreadful condition.

Punjab

Earlier this week, the Commissioner in Lahore ordered the ban on polythene bags/plastic shopping bags in the Ramazan bazaars to all deputy commissioners of division. Dr Mujtaba Piracha, Lahore Commissioner said plastic pollution and excessive use of polythene bags give serious threat to the environment and that joint effort are necessary to reduce them.

He said a full awareness campaign would initially be launched and that manufacturing plastic shopping bags was a large industry and so short and long-term steps were necessary.