Plastic pushback

Listen to article

One month has passed since the Sindh government imposed a ban on the manufacturing, sale and use of plastic bags across the province but adherence to the ban can barely be seen. Although the government is claiming that teams from district administration, police and Sindh Environmental Protection Agency have been deployed to effectuate what is a 'zero-tolerance' policy, as stated by Environment Secretary Agha Shahnawaz Khan, the strategy appears to be more focused on rhetoric than practical implementation.

The plastic ban, effective from June 15, 2025, calls for a complete cessation of all types, sizes and weights of both non-degradable and oxo-degradable single-use plastic bags. This decision comes in a bid to address one of the most critical ecological emergencies worldwide as single-use plastic, whether non-degradable or oxy-degradable, causes irreparable damage to land, water and air by persisting in the environment for centuries. Ongoing production of single-use plastic ensures the accumulation of irremovable pollutants.

As of yet, local authorities are still 'monitoring the situation' and handing out warnings to traders and shopkeepers, alerting them about serious consequences such as fines, arrests and factory closures. But in light of Sindh's previous attempts at enforcing a plastic ban, beginning from 2006, these admonitions will do little if not backed by punitive action.

Another key oversight of this ban is its lack of structure and strategy regarding introducing alternatives to plastic bags that are both cheap and accessible. To ensure sustained progress, prohibition must be accompanied with practical solutions. However, the government has failed to initiate any awareness campaigns, production of biodegradable alternatives or even recycling efforts aimed at curbing existing pollutants.

The plastic pollution crisis is in dire need of holistic measures that tackle waste management, improved circularity and reduced production. Only then can some substantial progress be witnessed.