Drive against polythene bags to begin next month in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) has warned the residents of the federal capital to shun the one-time use polythene bags, saying a drive against them will be launched from March 1.

Joint Secretary MoCC Syed Mujtabah Hussain held a public awareness campaign along with representatives of the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, the Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Traders Association of Pakistan, and the All Pakistan Non-Woven Bags Manufacturers Association on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, the joint secretary said a one-month relaxation had been given in the enforcement of the ban imposed on the one-time use of plastic bags.

He said the shopkeepers and customers alike had been warned to avoid using plastic bags before March 1, In case of violation, he said an individual would be fined Rs5,000, a manufacturer Rs1,00,000 and a shopkeeper Rs10,000.

He warned the residents that a polythene bag with D2W stamp was being sold in the market as a permissible one but it was actually a fraud and against the law.

He also distributed biodegradable, reusable and recyclable bags among the shopkeepers and public in Aabpara Market.

All Pakistan Traders' Association President Ajmal Baloch said the traders were fully supporting the ban. “However, there should be a large scale market availability of alternate bags. Otherwise, the compliance is difficult for the shopkeeper,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2021.