Besides shopkeepers, citizens to be fined for flouting ban on plastic bags

Retailers and general public violating the ban will be fined Rs10,000 and Rs5,000 respectively, says official

ISLAMABAD:

A joint enforcement team comprising Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Ministry of Climate Change and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration on Tuesday fined Rs25,000 to the shopkeepers flouting plastic bags ban, strictly reimposed by the government by March 1.

It also impounded 100 kilogrammes plastic bags besides sealing a shop selling polythene bags during inspection in Bhara Kahu and G-9 Markaz (Karachi Company), the Pak-EPA in a tweet said.

An official of the ministry told APP that the plastic bags were the major source of serious environmental pollution equally damaging human health, wildlife and biodiversity.

“The plastic or polythene single-use bags are one of the key factors of urban flooding in Karachi and many other urban mega centres.”

He said the ministry had devised a special legislation on the issue after proper consultation with the plastic bags manufacturers associations, traders, business community, academia, experts and also alternate bags manufacturing partners.

The ban was imposed on August 14, 2019 but its enforcement faced a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic leaving the masses complacent to abide by the restriction imposed in the federal capital, he added.

However, the official also said, “This time it is a strict drive being launched to make the masses adhere to plastic bags ban as earlier only the shopkeepers violating the ban were fined whereas now the general public found carrying plastic bags will be charged Rs5,000 fine.”

The shopkeepers violating the ban would be fined Rs10,000 and Rs100,000 to the manufacturers and retailers of plastic bags whereas the penalty would be doubled in case of repeated violation along with confiscation of plastic bags and closure of the property, he added.