A joint enforcement team of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ITCA) fined Rs25,000 to the shopkeepers flouting plastic bags ban, strictly re-imposed from March 1, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
It also impounded 100 kilogrammes of plastic bags while sealing a shop selling polythene bags during the inspection in Bhara Kahu and Sector G-9 Markaz (Karachi Company), he added.
An official of the ministry said that plastic bags were a 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 added.
He stated that the ministry had devised special legislation on the issue after proper consultation with the plastic bags manufacturers associations, traders, business community, academia, experts as well as alternate bags manufacturing partners.
The ban was imposed on August 14, 2019, but its enforcement faced a halt due to the novel coronavirus pandemic leaving the masses complacent to abide by the restriction imposed in the federal capital, he added. However, he said this time it was a strict drive being launched to make the masses adhere to the ban as earlier only the shopkeepers violating the ban were fined whereas now the general public found carrying plastic bags would be charged Rs5,000 fine.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2021.
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