EPA seizes 7,787-kg plastic bags in safe environment drive

LAHORE: Special squads of Environment Protection Agency Punjab (EPA) conducted 15,097 inspections and confiscated 7,787-kg plastic bags, which were under 75 microns.

A spokesman for EPA said that during the past three weeks, EPA special teams conducted 15,097 raids out of which 1,658 raids were conducted in Lahore in which 979-kg plastic bags were seized.

He said as per the data available, special teams of EPA Punjab conducted 295 inspections in Faisalabad and confiscated 733-kg plastic bags, Sheikhupura 459 inspections and 570-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Rawalpindi 1,007 inspections and 897-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Khanewal 358 inspections and 372-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Sialkot 153 inspections and 369-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Multan 173 inspections and 309-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Mandi Bahaudin 161 inspections and 262-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Gujrat 305 inspections and 276 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Gujranwala 218 inspections and 221-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Nankana Sahab 1,101 inspections and 213-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Rajanpur 181 inspections and 171-kg confiscation of plastic bags, DG Khan 161 inspections and 171-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Chakwal 307 inspections and 163-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Narowal 58 inspections and 132-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Hafizabad 685 inspections and 119-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Okara 71 inspections and 137-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Muzaffar Garh 148 inspections and 117-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Bahawalpur 162 inspections and 119-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Khushab 277 inspections and 87-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Rahim Yar Khan 233 inspections and 97-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Vehari 210 inspections and 117-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Layyah 653 inspections and 87-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Lodhran 135 inspections and 94-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Jhelum 158 inspections and 80-kg confiscation of plastic bags, Pakpattan 360 inspections and 62 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Kasur 237 inspections and 56 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Chiniot 120 inspections and 59 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Toba Tek Singh 7103 inspections and 51 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Sargodha 14 inspections and 66 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Mianwali 102 inspections and 36 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Bahawalnagar 76 inspections and 22 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Bhakkar 112 inspections and 14 kg confiscation of plastic bags, Muree 103 inspections and 21 kg confiscation of plastic bags, and Sahiwal 2150 inspections and 301 kg confiscation of plastic bags.

Environment Protection Agency Punjab Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh said this campaign was purely for better and safe environment for the public and the entire initiative has been supported by legislative measures and stakeholders have been taken on board to eliminate any gaps or discrepancies in implementing the plastic-free Punjab programme.

Imran Hamid added that government was committed to banning single-use plastic under 75 microns. He said the past failures to counter the plastic problem have shown that elimination will not be possible with isolated interventions.

“Multi-sectoral interventions have been identified and the entire plastic elimination regime has been institutionalised within the Punjab Planning & Development Department.

This time, it’s not just about banning the production of plastic bags less than 75 microns thick, but also facilitating businesses towards sustainable production. The focus was on responsible consumption and production”, Imran Hamid said.