‘Say No to Plastic’ drive kicks off

Tree plantation campaign launched by forest department in collaboration with education and district administration

ATTOCK:

The district administration Attock observed Monday as International Earth Day to mark the beginning of the ‘Say No to Plastic’ campaign across the district. Various eco-friendly initiatives a tree plantation campaign, a seminar, and an awareness walk were held to mark the day in a beneficial manner.

A tree plantation campaign was launched by the forest department in collaboration with education and district administration in which students from various educational institutions participated with the slogan of one child- one tree.

Separately a walk was taken out by the district administration with the collaboration of the environment department to create awareness and a seminar was organised in the University of Education Attock campus to synthesise youth about the effects of plastic on the environment especially on soil. Over 500 students from various departments and faculty members participated.

Addressing the seminar as Chief Guest, Attock Deputy Commissioner, Rao Atif Raza said keeping in view the deadly effects of plastic on the environment, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the ban on the use of plastic bags across the province from June 5. He called for the need to involve the youth to support the ‘Say No to Plastic’ campaign, saying plastic bags, emissions and pollution were a matter of concern for all members of society.

He was of the view that it is the collective responsibility to safeguard the Earth, highlighting global warming, pollution, deforestation, and land erosion as imminent threats. Rao said: “We should learn from urban flooding due to choking of drainages because of the plastic bags.”

Addressing the seminar, Shazia Maryum, assistant director Environment Protection Agency (EPA) used cloth and paper bags instead. “Pakistan has a hot and humid climate therefore consumption of bottled drinks is very high,” she said.

She added that lectures and workshops would be conducted in educational institutions to raise awareness about the health hazards posed by plastic bags.

Earlier, the Attock DC asked all shopkeepers to support the Punjab government’s campaign against the use of plastic bags. He hinted that the relevant authorities would ensure strict enforcement of the ban on plastic bags in all six tehsils of the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2024.