By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: A joint enforcement team comprising Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Ministry of Climate Change and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration Tuesday fined Rs25,000 to the shopkeepers flouting plastic bags ban, strictly reimposed by the government by March 1.
It also impounded 100 kilogrammes plastic bags besides sealing a shop selling polythene bags during inspection in Bhara Kahu and G-9 Markaz (Karachi Company), said the Pak-EPA in a tweet. An official of the ministry stated that the plastic bags were the major source of serious environmental pollution equally damaging human health, wildlife and biodiversity.
The plastic or polythene single-use bags were one of the key factors of urban flooding in Karachi and many other urban mega centers, he added. He said the ministry had devised a special legislation on the issue after proper consultation with the plastic bags manufacturers associations, traders, business community, academia, experts and also alternate bags manufacturing partners. The ban was imposed on August 14, 2019 but its enforcement faced a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic leaving the masses complacent to abide by the restriction imposed in the federal capital, he added.
