K-P bans sale, use of plastic bags

Hotels and food shops to be classified on the basis of their cleanliness

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has banned use of plastic bags all over the province and also decided to classify hotels and food shops on the basis of their cleanliness.

The decision to this effect was taken by a high ranking committee headed by Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai, a statement said on Saturday.

The meeting was informed that rules were enacted in 2017 for use of oxybiodegradable plastic bags however it was not implemented. An oxybiodegradable plastic bag contains additives which allow the breakdown of long polymers into short polymers.

Information minister talking to the media said that deputy commissioners will  impose section 144 on manufacturing and sale of plastic bags.

Local Government Act already existed and the Environmental Protection Act has also come into place according to which shoppers weighing less than 50 micron would not be allowed adding that no shopping bags other than biodegradable would be acceptable.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2019.