Crackdown on plastic shopping bags from October 12

RAWALPINDI:

After the passage of the deadline, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is all set to launch a crackdown against polythene shopping bags from next week.

EPA Deputy Director (DD) Amin Baig told The Express Tribune that in light of the Lahore High Court orders, the ban on the use of polythene bags was imposed across Punjab in March. He added that all shopkeepers were given six months’ deadline to stop using plastic bags. Therefore, the deadline was over on September 30 after which the EPA will initiate a crackdown against the shopkeepers using it from October 12.

EPA deputy director said that grocery, dairy, meat, and medicine stores as well as hotels and restaurants still using polythene bags have been issued red notices.

The official said violators will be fined heavily in the first phase. In the second phase, their shops would be sealed off. Baig suggested shopkeepers use paper or cotton cloth bags.

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