Environment Protection Agency gives two-week deadline to stop use of plastic bags in Lahore

LAHORE: The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab on Tuesday issued directives to stop the use of polythene bags at all major departmental stores, malls, hotels etc, reported The News.

According to a notification issued by the Director-General, EPA Punjab, Syed Ashar Abbass, all field officers have been directed to circulate and implement the directive as per the Lahore High Court's ban on polythene bags in Lahore.

A special taskforce has been constituted in this regard for the compliance of the high court's orders. The taskforce has begun its work, starting with informing departmental stores, hotels, shopping malls and markets’ representatives to make arrangements to stop the use of polythene bags.

In this regard, two weeks’ time has been given to shoppers and markets association representatives to implement the orders.

The DG has directed the task force to strictly monitor the entire campaign and ensure the implementation of the orders. Abbas added an awareness campaign should also be launched to aware the masses in this regard so that they could also make alternatives and not to use the polythene bags in future.

Earlier, Environmental Protection Department Minister Muhammad Rizwan had issued directions to his department to comply with LHC order in which it directed all major departmental stores and wholesale outlets to take immediate steps to stop the use of polythene bags at their stores.