Staff Repoter
Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul on Tuesday warned the general public to shun use, manufacturing and selling of single-use plastic bags as no complacency would be bore in penalizing violators of the ban after spearheading a massive public awareness campaign regarding ban on polythene bags.
“Experiences have shown that the use of polythene bags has already played havoc with environment, natural ecosystems and public health.
Thus, we no longer afford and tolerate manufacturing, sale, import and use of the environmental nuisance anymore,” the state minister remarked, while talking to media here after sending off the polythene bags ban enforcement teams to various business centers of the Capital for monitoring the implementation of ban on polythene bags.
She stressed that those who don’t shun the use of polythene bags despite alternative bags’ availability in adequacy in the markets at affordable prices were actually foes of the people and environment.
Zartaj Gul said that while official enforcement teams have started raiding markets in Islamabad and its adjoining areas from March 1and imposing fines on shopkeepers and consumers for violating the law against use of polythene bags, more stringent measures would be taken in coming days against those flouting the law framed in year 2019 banning polythene bags as punishable crime in the federal capital territory.
The enforcement teams have been reactivated and directed to visit the markets and other areas and impose fines on those found violating the ban on polythene bags.
These teams comprise senior officials from the climate change ministry, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory administration and Islamabad Police.
