Directives issued to halt plastic packaging at Lahore, Islamabad airports

Punjab Environmental Protection Dept enforcing action against with seizure of 12,849 kg of plastic bags

LAHORE:

Due to the ban on single-use plastic in Punjab, directives have been issued to cease plastic packaging at Lahore and Islamabad airports.

Director General of Environment Imran Hameed Sheikh has issued instructions to airport authorities, stating that packing bags from plastic wrapping sheets is prohibited due to excessive plastic waste. Plastic packaging has been banned at airports worldwide.

He mentioned that the Punjab Environmental Protection Department is rigorously enforcing action against plastic bags throughout Punjab. Special squads conducted 29,757 inspections and seized 12,849 kilograms of plastic bags that were less than 75 microns thick.

According to the spokesperson of the Punjab Environmental Protection Department, during the past month, special teams of the department conducted 29,757 raids, of which 2,195 raids were conducted in provincial capitals and 1,049 kilograms of plastic bags were seized.

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Previously, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab initiated a significant crackdown across the province, conducting 10,873 inspections and confiscating 6,627kg of plastic bags below 75 microns, Express Tribune has learned.

Sources within EPA revealed that special teams carried out these raids, including 1,460 inspections in the provincial capital, where 956 kg of plastic bags were seized.

An EPA spokesperson told The Express Tribune that to combat plastic pollution, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken political ownership and imposed a ban on the production and use of plastic bags from June 5.

The chief minister has directed the environment department to monitor all registered premises to ensure compliance with the new regulations, and to conduct vigilant operations to ensure no unregistered plastic bag production units are operating.

Director General of Punjab Imran Hamid Sheikh said that the initiative is supported by legislative measures and stakeholder engagement to eliminate any gaps in implementing the plastic-free Punjab program.