Punjab minister seeks policy for increasing thickness of polythene bags

LAHORE: Environmental Protection Department (EPD) Punjab has demanded the government amend Ordinance 2002 to increase thickness of polythene bags from 15 micron to 45 micron.

The demand was put before Minister for Environment M Rizwan in a departmental meeting held here on Thursday. EPD Secretary Dr Zafar said there was an immediate need to amend Ordinance 2002 to increase thickness of polythene bags. He said India had fixed the thickness of polythene bags to 50 micron and China has fixed it to 60 micron. The secretary also demanded that powers also be delegated to officials of Local Govt Department and district administration in addition to the officials of EPA to make it more effective. The minister agreed to the demand and directed the secretary to make a clear policy to increase thickness of shopping bags from 15 micron to 40 micron. He advised him to immediately start work on formulation of draft plastic bag Act 2019 and start awareness campaign to discourage the use of light weight and low thickness polythene bags.