State minister vows to make Islamabad plastic free by Dec 31

Islamabad's Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, has pledged to eradicate plastic from the capital by December 31. In an interview with Dawn, Chaudhry stated that the government will prohibit all types of plastic bags and products in Islamabad, including thick and thin bags, shopping bags with handles, and plastic water bottles. Arrangements are being made to remove these items from the capital by the deadline.

Chaudhry explained that many plastic bags entering Pakistan originate in Iran and are petroleum by-products sold at low prices. These products are subsequently auctioned by customs authorities and distributed across the country. Despite a ban on single-use plastic bags since August 14, 2019, they continue to be used by cart pushers and traders in small markets. Multiple enforcement drives have been conducted over the past seven years, resulting in penalties for violators.

Dr Zaigham Abbas, Director National Environmental Quality Standards, informed that traders have been asked by the government to return single-use plastic bags to manufacturers and replace them with alternatives by October 20. Priority is being given to single-use plastic bags, with three factories already raided and sealed, confiscating 1.4 tonnes of polythene bags.

Exempted from these regulations are packaged food items such as bread, rice, and pulses, as they are necessary for preserving food and have a limited shelf life. Bottled water is also exempted until 2028.