Business community agrees to use biodegradable shopping bags

KOHAT: The business community finally concluded its 72-hour-long protest and agreed to use biodegradable shopping bags following talks with the deputy commissioner (DC) here on Wednesday.

The traders had gone on a strike after the DC banned the use of plastic shopping bags three days ago and imposed section 144 on their manufacture, use and sale in the area.

The traders action committee’s secretary general Abid Khan told media that they had formed legal and political committees to raise the issue in the court and with the government.

The DC called the traders to his office in order to dilute the matter, he said.

At the meeting, Abid Khan stated that the deputy commissioner elucidated the traders’ leaders that the ban had been enforced by the chief minister and he was only executing it.

The deputy commissioner also warned that if anyone was found selling or making the banned shopping bags, it would result in heavy fine.

Therefore, said the traders’ leaders, they had decided to destroy the polythene shoppers and sell only government-stamped shopping bags.