To make the federal capital more environmentally friendly, District Administration has made it illegal to manufacture polythene bags there.
The weekly market use of polythene bags has been outlawed by the district administration of Islamabad. Instead, each weekly market will have a stall selling woven or biodegradable bags.
To make the federal capital more environmentally friendly, District Administration has made it illegal to manufacture polythene bags there.
Irfan Nawaz Memon, a deputy commissioner, claims that all wholesalers are also not permitted to sell polythene bags. Although expensive, biodegradable bags are reusable, he said. According to Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon, all wholesalers have also been banned from selling polythene bags.
“Although, biodegradable bags are expensive but reusable,” he said. He further said that special instructions have been issued to all assistant commissioners regarding polythene bags ban. Moreover, there is a complete ban on polythene bags in big stores. He proposed that citizens should buy reusable cloth bags.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency has made polythene plastic bags illegal in Islamabad. Polythene bags are not permitted to be produced, imported or distributed, sold, bought, stored, or used in any way in the Islamabad Capital Territory, according to the regulations. Any person or organisation that violates the ban is subject to a fine of Rs. 500,000.
However, subject to Pak-EPA approval, the manufacture and use of polythene bags are permitted for five exempt uses.
Manufacturers, importers (wholesalers), and commercial users of polythene flat bags may manufacture, import, or commercially use polythene flat bags for the following five exempted uses in the Islamabad Capital Territory, upon grant of authorization from Pak-EPA: industrial packing, primary industrial packing, municipal waste, hospital waste, and hazardous waste.
Polythene bags can have negative impacts on the environment, as they are non-biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to break down. By providing alternatives such as woven or biodegradable bags, the district administration is helping to reduce waste and protect the environment.
Using biodegradable bags is especially beneficial, as they are made from materials that can break down naturally, reducing their environmental impact. It’s important to reduce use of single-use plastics, and initiatives like this can make a big difference.