320 kg plastic bags confiscated by GB-EPA at Hunza

GB-EPA team along with District Administration Hunza raided against single use plastic bag in Hunza bazar.

320 kg plastic bags confiscated by GB-EPA at HunzaTeam confiscated 320 kg plastic bags from wholesalers, general stores, bakery and many other local shops located in Hunza bazar. They imposed Rs 10,000/- fines on the violators of the regulation.

Gilgit Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GBEPA) and Hunza district administration issued directives to impose ban on use of plastic bags in the district.

The decision was taken due to adverse implication of plastic bags usage on environmental and human health.

A long time ago Gilgit Baltistan considered as pollution free and under minimum pressure region but now on border of entering into the list of polluted areas.

Under the Prime Ministers Initiative on Clean and Green Pakistan Movement, GB-EPA has launched “Phasing-out of single use plastic/ ban on plastic shopping bags” in hunza on 21st April, 2019 on pilot basis.

The district administration advised people and businesses community to use bags made from paper and clothing. They has also started an awareness campaign in this regard by displaying notices at various points with the messages “say no to plastic bags, avoid use of plastic bags to save future coming generations”.

Till now all the technical pre-requisites for the elimination of Single-use plastic bags from Hunza have been completed by GB-EPA which includes Provision of alternatives, Rules on banning single use plastic bags, awareness material, funds, technical support, awareness walks, sensitization to the stakeholders ( i.e. Hoteliers, bazar committees and community of the region).