Punjab intensifies war against plastic pollution, seizes 40 tons of plastic

LAHORE: The Punjab Environment Protection Department has stepped it up with an enhanced crackdown on the use of illegal plastic in the province, taking significant steps toward reducing plastic waste in the province.

It has confiscated a whopping 40 tons of plastic since June last year, as reported by Radio Pakistan on Friday. This is part of the continuing struggle of the Punjab Governorate to enforce a rigid ban on the use of plastic, led by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

The minister announced that the recovered plastic will be reused in making chairs for primary schoolchildren in Lahore and Faisalabad; this is a commendable initiative to promote sustainability and cushion the issue of waste.

Plastic waste continues to be the biggest concern in Pakistan, with an annual trashing of over 3.9 million tons of plastic, and sadly the bulk of it is not managed efficiently.

Punjab accounted for more than 50% of the total consumption of plastic in June; however, data on the volume of plastic bag production remains unavailable. To get around this, District Plastic Management Committees headed by deputy commissioners have been set up to oversee enforcement and promote reusable materials.

The interim crackdown is meant to fine violators up to Rs 50,000, seal the premises, and promote the use of alternative sustainable products.

The very moves for tackling plastic pollution in Pakistan are nothing fresh; even earlier attempts, like the Plastic-Free Pakistan Campaign of 2019, faced hurdles due to less enforcement coupled with alternative supply failure.

However, the on-going campaign seems to have found some footing, as the Punjab government had directed the district administration to implement a ban on the manufacture, sale, and use of polythene/plastic bags, effective June 5.