Say Goodbye to Plastic: Sindh’s Plastic Bag Ban Starts June 15 – What You Need to Know!

KARACHI: Starting June 15, the Sindh government has banned the manufacture, sale, and use of all plastic shopping bags in the province. This includes non-degradable, oxo-degradable, and recycled plastic bags of any size or color.

This decision comes under the Sindh Prohibition of Non-Degradable Plastic Products Rules 2014 and the Sindh Environmental Protection Act of 2014. The Sindh cabinet approved this amendment on April 15, and the Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department issued the notification on April 30 for enforcement.

Pakistan is facing a severe plastic pollution crisis. According to Senator Sherry Rehman, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, plastic waste is choking urban areas. On the International Day of Zero Waste, she highlighted that Pakistan generates about 49.6 million tons of solid waste each year, yet only 1% of plastic waste is recycled—compared to the global average of 9%. Much of the plastic ends up in landfills, drains, and rivers. Alarmingly, the Indus River ranks as the second most plastic-polluted river worldwide.

“This isn’t a future problem; it’s a crisis now,” Senator Rehman noted. She emphasized that Pakistan consumes 55 billion plastic bags annually, with usage increasing by 15% each year. This growing reliance on plastic contributes to health issues linked to waste management failures.

In response, Punjab has also begun to take action. In January, the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency announced a ban on plastic bags thinner than 75 microns. They are promoting recycling and raising public awareness through campaigns.

This growing trend to ban plastic bags reflects a broader global movement towards sustainability. Countries around the world are implementing similar bans as they grapple with the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and public health. The fight against plastic pollution is gaining traction, and Pakistan is part of this essential change.

For further context on the impact of plastic pollution, check out this detailed report by the World Wildlife Fund: Plastic Pollution: Solutions.

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