The Punjab Environmental Protection Department has intensified its fight against illegal use of plastic, confiscating 40 tonnes of plastic since June last year. Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.
Plastic waste remains a pressing problem in Pakistan, where more than 3.9 million tonnes of plastic is generated annually, and much of it is inadequately managed.
In June, Punjab was responsible for more than half of the country’s total plastic consumption, but there has been no data on the scale of plastic bag production.
In a statement today, Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the crackdown is part of the government’s ongoing campaign to enforce a strict ban on plastic across Punjab.
“It also announced innovative plans to reuse seized plastic and said it will be used to create chairs for primary school children in Lahore and Faisalabad,” the report added.
Using seized plastic bags, a play area was constructed at Lahore’s Model Bazaar and benches and chairs were provided to government offices and hospitals, he added.
The crackdown aimed to address this problem by imposing fines of up to Rs 50,000 on violators, sealing non-compliant premises and promoting sustainable alternatives. business recorder reported.
The report further said that district plastic management committees, headed by deputy commissioners, have been set up to monitor enforcement and promote the use of reusable materials.
Efforts to tackle plastic pollution were not new in Pakistan, as previous attempts, such as the Plastic Free Pakistan Campaign in 2019, faced challenges due to limited enforcement and lack of alternatives.
Earlier, the Punjab government directed the district administration to implement ban on manufacturing, sale and use of polythene/plastic bags from June 5.
The Rawalpindi district administration on Thursday confiscated 1,754 kilograms of plastic bags and sealed three shops, besides imposing a fine of Rs 85,000 on the traders.
