Staff Reporter
Peshawar
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has initiated strong action against polythene bags manufacturing companies and decided to seize plastic bags having less than 50 microns size to curb rising plastic pollution in the province.
Deedar Ahmed, Assistant Director Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) KP while talking to APP told that Polythene bags being a leading source of spreading plastic pollution has been banned in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and strong action was being taken against polythene bags manufacturing companies. Only biodegradable bags having 50 microns size were allowed in the open market for businesses purposes. He said plastic size was being measured through d2 detector machine and all those bags with less than 50 micron size were being seized in the markets to curb the plastic pollution.
Deedar Ahmed said operation against polythene bags manfecturing companies and shops were expedited across the province including Swat, Buner, Shangla, Lower, Upper Dir, Malakabd, Chitral, DI Khan, Abbottabad and merged tribal districts.
He said polythene bags factories and manufactured companies were sealed in Hayatabad Industrial Estate Peshawar under Prohibition of Non-degradable Plastic Products (Manufacturing, Sale and Usage) Rules 2016.
He said companies violating the Government orders were being sent to Environmental Tribunal Peshawar having the power to impose fine up to Rs5million,confiscated entire stock or imposed Rs100,000 fine per day or sent the accused behind the bars.
