State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul while briefing the Sub-Committee of the Senate on Climate Change announced that the Government has decided to put a blanket ban on the usage of plastic bags in Islamabad. This ban would come in effect after 14-Aug this year. Anyone violating this law would be subjected to hefty amounts of fines between Rs100,000 and Rs500,000.
The Government has given a month long deadline to the manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers to finish their stock before August 14. To ensure strict implementation, raids would be carried out.
Post 14-Aug, only registered authorities would be allowed to produce a limited number of flat plastic bags for industrial, hospital or municipal packaging and waste.
Malik Amin, on Tuesday, said that “Any manufacturer, importer or wholesaler found supplying the polythene bags after August 14, will be fined Rs. 50,000. Habitual offenders may have to pay up to Rs. 500,000.” Adding to this he said that anoyone found violating the regulation would be fined Rs. 10,000 for the first offense, as for repeated violations the fine would be Rs. 50,000.
