It is said that an increase in the national usage of cars cause majority of traffic incidents, yet we do not ban them
KARACHI: It is said that an increase in the national usage of cars cause majority of traffic incidents, yet we do not ban them. We know that there are other facets of driving that must be considered as well. Similarly, while it is true that plastic (polyethylene) bags can accumulate in landfills and oceans due to their non-biodegradable nature, other factors must not be ignored while deciding upon a ban. An important point to note is that the question of the environmental harms of plastic is not a straightforward one. Quarters concerned in the government do not seem to be cognisant of these facts and are taking a rather one-dimensional approach which disregards the ground realities of our country.
Pakistan happens to be one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, so the manufacture of non-polyethylene bags (which requires more water) could prove detrimental in this regard. A ban on plastic bags would naturally drive up the use of paper and cloth bags. The paper bags would devour our already-endangered forests at an alarming rate, which will in no way help the environment. Cloth bags would require the import of cotton and jute from other countries, further worsening our balance-of-payments crisis. Another economic worry comes from the fact that the plastic bag industry has about 8,000 units around Pakistan, and provides jobs to more than half a million people. The loss of jobs which would be caused by this ban is unthinkable. The government should also not ignore the area of scientific research, as recent developments have shown encouraging results, and the near future may yield some interesting solution to the plastic predicament.
Osaid Abdullah
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2019.
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