Lahore High Court imposes ban on use of polythene bags

Seeks report from mineral water companies to communicate deadline for abandoning use of plastic bottle

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Shahid Karim imposed a ban on the use of polythene bags in the city’s departmental stores, bakeries and hotels.

The direction over the use of polythene bags was passed on to the environment department intimating that another order would be issued for the other cities of the province in the next phase.

Petitioner’s counsel implored the court that some hotels still use polythene bags over which Justice Karim directed the environment department to ensure complete ban within two days.

The LHC justice also sought a report on the amount of time required by the mineral water companies to stop the use of plastic bottles to sell drinking water to consumers.

Justice Karim adjourned the proceedings up to March 13.

Previous proceedings

In the earlier proceedings, the environment department had submitted its report before the court contending that some food outlets are still using plastic bags despite a restraint being ordered on its use.

The law officer had implored the court that Al-Fatah Store and Shezan Bakers sought time through affidavits up to March 4 to stop the use of plastic bags.

Justice Karim had made clear that those stores and bakeries found using plastic bags would be sealed.

Meanwhile, Justice Karim had also issued notices to drinking water companies over selling water in plastic bottles.

The LHC justice remarked that the consumers should be aware that the court was eliminating all anti-environment products.

“Nothing would change until we change our conduct,” Justice Karim observed.

The petitioner had claimed that the government had failed in ensuring complete ban over the use of plastic bags which are not only causing pollution but also affecting human health.

The petitioner had contented that the provincial government had not taken any step to impose ban on the use of plastic bags despite giving several assurances to the Lahore High Court.

He prayed the court to pass an order to impose a ban on the manufacturing and use of plastic bags.

He also requested the court to direct the Punjab government to ensure legislation on the aforementioned issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2020.