Plastic ban fails to achieve desired results

There are two ways of dealing with a leaky faucet. The first is to cover the tap with duct tape and block the flow of water while the other involves recognizing and addressing the root cause of the leakage. Unfortunately, the Punjab government habitually chooses to go with the first option, the convenient albeit maladroit solution.

Over the past few years, multiple bans have been imposed on the shopping bag industry in Punjab with the aim of reducing land pollution however, the failure of the state authorities to address the root cause behind the continued sale of plastic has only meant that the hefty fines imposed on shopkeepers are shifted to the customers through increased prices while plastic bag sales remain high in the wholesale market.

The Director General of the Environment Protection Department, Imran Hameed, has issued a stern warning to shopping bag users, stating that from this month onwards, using plastic shopping bags will result in severe penalties including six months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs100,000 or both.

“The Punjab government now only permits shopping bags with a thickness of 75 microns or above. Those producing, selling, or using bags below this threshold will face crackdowns,” announced Sajid Bashir, the spokesperson for the Environment Protection Department.

According to a report obtained by the Express Tribune, more than 15,000 shopping bag manufacturing units, both large and small, are operating in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, and D.G. Khan, with 20,000 to 25,000 tonnes of plastic bags manufactured daily in the provincial capital. Documents further revealed that although Lahore alone generates 65,000 tonnes of waste daily, with 20 percent or 18,000 tonnes consisting of shopping bags, the government only has the capacity to collect 19,000 tonnes hence leading to pollution and disruption of the sanitation system.

Qudratullah, a local consumer, while sharing his two cents on the matter, opined that like the past, the recent ban too existed only in paper, and not in practice. “Shopkeepers continue to sell plastic bags. They keep two types of bags; one for which they charge Rs10 and the other, the plastic bag, which is free,” he disclosed.

Meanwhile, a shopkeeper, Babar Khan revealed that he gave shopping bags to customers upon their demand. “The Environmental Protection Department and district administration impose separate fines, inquiring about why shopping bags are being used. However, if customers demand shopping bags, shopkeepers have no choice but to provide them,” shrugged Khan.

According to Professor Anwarul Haq Sheikh, a medical professional from the Sahiwal Medical College, the use of plastic causes skin diseases and cancer. “The government should have banned shopping bags and other plastic items a long time ago, but due to political expediency, it was ignored. Now, the plastic industry has become a significant challenge for the government,” claimed Sheikh.

Sheikh’s concerns were validated when the correspondent spoke to two stakeholders in the plastic industry, both of whom were adamant at continuing with their business until the government provided them with an alternative source of income. Mushtaq Ahmed, a local shopping bag trader, revealed that he had eight children to support and was living in a rented house. “If the government wants to shut down this industry, they should provide compensation. We'll find another job. Shutting down this industry will increase unemployment. We won't let this industry shut down and will take this issue to court." vowed Ahmed.

Similarly, Javed Jilani, in-charge of a large shopping bag manufacturing unit, suggested that instead of shutting down the industry, the government should help transition it to eco-friendly alternatives. “This way, the government can mitigate the environmental impact while safeguarding livelihoods,” opined Jilani.

Senior Minister of Punjab and Minister for Environment, Marriyum Aurangzeb maintained that the government had launched the ‘No to Plastic’ campaign to eliminate pollution starting from 2024