Sindh government has enforced a province-wide ban on plastic shopping bags, effective immediately from Monday. The measure is aimed at curbing the growing environmental damage caused by plastic pollution.
Announcing the move, Secretary of Environment, Climate Change, and Coastal Development, Agha Shah Nawaz Khan, stated that the ban applies to the manufacture, distribution, sale, and usage of all plastic shopping bags. He stressed that the time for warnings has passed and that strict enforcement will now follow.
All individuals and businesses involved in the plastic bag trade must cease operations immediately, Khan said. No tolerance will be shown to violators. Factories may be sealed, fines imposed, and arrests made if the law is breached.
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The government has mobilized district administrations, police forces, and special monitoring teams to ensure full compliance with the ban. These units have been instructed to take firm action against violators without any leniency.
Despite previous grace periods, public awareness drives, and repeated warnings, Khan emphasized that the environmental damage caused by plastic waste necessitates urgent and uncompromising action. He affirmed that this initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce pollution and protect natural ecosystems in Sindh.
The ban marks a significant milestone in the provinces environmental policy and is expected to pave the way for more sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.