LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday banned the use of polythene bags across the city.
During the proceedings, LHC ordered the authorities concerned to implement the court orders and completely prohibit the use of polythene bags within two weeks.
LHC’s Justice Shahid Karim ordered the relevant authorities to appraise the court about banning the use of plastic bottles by the next hearing.
“In the next phase, we would issue a verdict on banning polythene bags in other cities of Punjab,” the judge said.
The court adjourned the hearing until March 13.
Earlier, Balochistan’s Provincial Secretary on Environment Abdul Saboor Kakar said the ban on polythene (plastic) bags has been enforced in different parts of the province.
The Supreme Court and High Court have also given clear orders in this regard, he added.
He expressed his views while presiding over a meeting held in the Deputy Commissioner’s Quetta office regarding the pollution caused by plastic bags.
The meeting also discussed preventive measures in this regard and emphasised the need to spread public awareness.
The secretary said that “plastic bags are harmful as they do not decay for several hundred years; it not only destroys the environment but also gives rise to other problems such as drainage, garbage dumps and area deformation.”
“In addition to its detrimental effects on human health, it can also be attributed to fatal diseases such as cancer. We have to take concrete steps to protect our environment and the lives of the people and the generations to come,” Kakar said.
