LHC orders ban on plastic bags at fruit shops

Authorities directed to extend ban to other districts

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued the directives to the authorities concerned to impose a ban on the use of plastic bags at fruit shops, vendors, medical stores and pharmacies.

The court passed the order while hearing a petition to control environmental pollution as the plastic bags were also one of the major elements causing pollution.

LHC’s Justice Karim directed the authorities concerned to extend the court’s order to the districts of Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sialkot apart from the district Lahore. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) director general shall direct the deputy directors of these regions to enforce the orders of this court concerning plastic bags.

The court granted 15 days to the stores and bakeries operating within these districts where after the use of plastic bags shall be stopped.

This order shall be enforced by the officer of EPA after the deadline of 15 days is over.

The court further directed that the EPA shall continue to expand the ban on the use of plastic bags to other retail outlets.

In particular, notices shall be served on pharmacies and vendors of fruit items to be complaint within two weeks. The judge fixed September 9 for further proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2020.