Plastic bags to be completely banned in Sindh: Wahab

He says hazardous plastic bags were spoiling the beauty of the city and environment

KARACHI: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Environment and Law and the Sindh government's spokesperson Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that non-biodegradable plastic bags will be completely banned in the province from October 1st.

Addressing a press conference at the Sindh Assembly, flanked by representatives of the Plastic Manufacturing Association, he said that the association has welcomed the initiative to ban the manufacture of non-biodegradable plastic.

Wahab clarified that the government did not want the plastic industry to shut down as thousands of people were associated with the industry. He added, however, that hazardous plastic bags were spoiling the beauty of the city and environment.

"I am thankful to the representatives of the Plastic Manufacturing Association who called this a positive decision," he said. "Plastic Manufacturing Association's move to improve the environment is laudable."

The president of the association, Ahmed, said they will increase the thickness of plastic bags to 30 microns, while they are also planning to gradually stop the production of small bags, which choke the sewerage system.

Wahab also revealed that the manufacturers and sellers who make or sell the prohibited micron-sized plastic bags will be penalised.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2019.