‘Renewed efforts ramped up to crack down on single-use plastics in Islamabad’

Islamabad:Enforcement efforts under a plan have been stepped up to clamp down on use of single-use plastics in the Islamabad and its adjoining areas and punish those violating the ban on single-use plastic items, particularly polythene bags, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination’s media spokesperson Mohammad Saleem Shaikh said in a statement on Sunday.

Sharing details of the various enforcement crackdowns conducted in various areas of the federal capital city under the plan, he said that the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) in collaboration with the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has intensified its enforcement of the Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023 through a series of inspection drives, targeting prominent commercial areas in the city.

Inspection teams visited bakeries, hotels, plastic suppliers, and local vendors across various localities to ensure strict compliance with the ban on single-use plastics. These operations resulted in the confiscation of significant quantities of prohibited items and fines imposed on multiple violators, the climate change and environmental coordination ministry’s spokesperson Saleem Shaikh added.

The ministry official recalled that on May 23, a Pak-EPA’s enforcement team conducted a targeted inspection in Islamabad’s upscale G-6 sector, seized over 15 kilogrammes of banned single-use plastic products. Six shopkeepers were fined and issued warnings for non-compliance. Encouragingly, most shops in the area were found using eco-friendly alternatives for packaging.

In a separate operation on May 22, Pak-EPA teams carried out inspections at key markets, including G-9 Peshawar Morr Market, Safa Gold Mall (F-7 Markaz), and Rana Market (F-7/2). These raids led to the confiscation of over 300 kilogrammes of banned items and the imposition of Rs. 45,000 in fines on seven violators, the ministry spokesperson Muhammad Saleem said further.

The official added that earlier on May 16, inspections in G-7 Markaz and adjacent markets resulted in the seizure of 150 kilogrammes of single-use plastics and Rs. 10,000 in fines.Lauding the joint crackdowns by Pak-EPA and ICT Administration against those violating the single-use plastics. Pak-EPA Director General Nazia Zeb Ali emphasised the agency’s firm in its stance against plastic pollution.

“This crackdown is part of our sustained efforts to enforce the Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023, so as to reduce plastic pollution in the capital city and its adjoining areas for overall protection of environment and public health,” she remarked.

She highlighted that stringent actions would continue at all levels against those disregarding the ban, contaminating the city’s environment and harming public health.The Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023 ban the manufacture, import, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastics, including polythene bags and disposable beverage containers, within the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Pak-EPA remains committed to ongoing inspection efforts and strict enforcement to ensure environmental protection and promote sustainable practices.