Ban on plastic comes into effect in Sindh

A large number of plastic bags were seized, shops were sealed during a raid at Jodia Bazaar on Tuesday

KARACHI: Marking the implementation of the ban on plastic bags in Sindh, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Law and Environment Murtaza Wahab said that people are now able to see the results of the Environment Department’s tireless efforts.

Addressing the media at the Sindh Assembly’s media corner on Tuesday, Wahab said that the ban on plastic bags has been implemented from today (Tuesday).

Ban on plastic bags begins today in Sindh

The ban came into effect about two months after the Sindh government launched an awareness campaign against the use of plastic bags.

According to Wahab, a notification, prohibiting the use, sale and manufacture or non-biodegradable plastic bags, has been issued by the Sindh government.

Following the implementation of the ban, a large number of plastic bags were seized and some shops were sealed during a raid, led by the Sindh Environment Protection Agency Director General, conducted at Jodia Bazaar on Tuesday.

Moreover, the Environment Department also carried out a raid in Jamshoro and sealed a factory where unused batteries were being burned and lead was being processed.

Wahab informed the media personnel that in addition to these actions, last week, a raid had been carried out at an iron-making factory in Kemari, where coal was burned and caused pollution. He said that more raids will be conducted at various markets in the coming days.

Plastic is his bread and butter, yet he has no qualms about giving it up

Wahab appreciated the shopkeepers for giving up the use of plastic bags and displaying notices requesting the customers to bring their own cloth or paper bags to the shops.

"It is our collective responsibility to beautify the environment. We can all tackle the problem of pollution [by not using plastic bags] as these are damaging the environment," he said.