Complete ban on polythene bags enforced in Sindh

A province-wide ban on the manufacture, supply and use of plastic shopping bags came into full effect on Sunday as the official deadline given to Sindh’s industries, wholesalers and retailers in this regard expired.

The provincial government said that this time the enforcement of this ban would go beyond mere public announcements, with clear instructions to field officials for strict action. Environment Secretary Agha Shahnawaz Khan firmly warned all manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and shopkeepers that the use of plastic bags in any form would not be tolerated.

Violators will face heavy fines, arrests and potential factory closures. District administration, police and Sindh Environmental Protection Agency teams will be actively monitoring the enforcement of this ban and taking due punitive action without any exception.

Khan said that earlier, several opportunities were given through deadlines, awareness drives and warnings to motivate retailers and other people not to use polythene shopping bags. “Now there’s no room left for leniency. All factory owners, wholesalers and retailers must immediately halt the plastic bag trade or face strict consequences.”

On Thursday, the environment secretary had chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to discuss the enforcement of the province-wide ban on plastic shopping bags. To ensure strict implementation of the ban, a special committee was formed under Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) Director General Waqar Hussain Phulpoto comprising all regional directors.

The meeting decided that a zero-tolerance policy would be enforced from June 16 onwards, and formal letters would be sent to the home secretary and all divisional commissioners to ensure coordinated district-level operations. Stressing the ecological dangers posed by plastic bags, the secretary said the enforcement of the ban would begin on June 16, with visible results expected immediately.