Sindh imposes ban on polythene bags

The Sindh government has imposed a complete ban on the manufacturing, sale and purchase of polythene bags in the province to safeguard its environment. A notification to this effect was issued by the home secretary on Wednesday.

It said it was necessary to take immediate measures to avoid environmental pollution, the choking of drains and risks to the health of citizens associated with the use of non-biodegradable polythene bags/plastic products as carriers for food/drinkable substances or other materials in contravention of the Sindh Prohibition of Non-Degradable Plastic Products (Manufacturing, Sale, and Usage) Rules 2014 and the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014.

The authorised officer would initiate strict legal action under the rules against violators of the restriction, it said. In pursuance of Section 195 (i) (a) of the CrPC, the SHO has been authorised to register complaints under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code in writing against violators of the notification.

The provincial government also extended for another 180 days a ban on the lifting of sand from the Malir River. The ban had originally been imposed in the province on 14 September, 2017.