Sindh govt imposes ban on polythene bags

KARACHI: In compliance of the Supreme Court orders, the Sindh government has imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale and purchase of non-biodegradable polythene bags and plastic products in the province with immediate effect.

A notification in this regard has also been issued by the provincial home department. It says the ban has been imposed to avoid environmental pollution, choking of drains and to minimise health risks to citizens associated with use of these non-biodegradable polythene bags and plastic products as carriers for food and drinkable substances or for carrying 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 home department asked the officer concerned under the Sindh Prohibition of Non-degradable Plastic Products (Manufacturing, Sale and Usage) Rules 2014 to initiate strict legal action under the said rules; and, in addition to Sindh Environment Protection Agency against the violators of that order.

While under Section 195(i)(a) of the CrPC, SHO of the police station concerned was authorised to register complaints regarding the issue under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the violators.