Traders use plastic ban to exploit customers in Islamabad

Traders overcharg consumers, charge extra for replaced carrying bags

ISLAMABAD: A number of traders in the federal capital have started exploiting customers by overcharging as well as forcing them to pay extra charges for the replaced carrying bags after imposition of the ban on polythene bags.

The present government has banned plastic bags in the federal capital since August 14 to save citizens from environmental and health hazards, which was a positive step toward making the environment clean.

However, many of the traders started fleecing the customers by charging extra money by offering reusable bags to them which the buyers are compelled to purchase to carry their things in as they have no other option.

Irum Naz, a customer at a well-known brand outlet in one of the biggest shopping malls said they gave me the option of buying their store-brand bag at a very heavy cost saying they were not allowed to use ordinary plastic bags and I had no option left but to buy their branded carrying bag.  

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2019.