LAHORE: The Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD) is developing a digital registry to map and monitor plastic bag production, as well as register all producers, distributors, collectors, and recycling units. This initiative is part of the Punjab government’s “No to Plastic” campaign.
Punjab, the most populous province in Pakistan, accounts for over half of the country’s plastic consumption. Despite this, there has been a lack of data on the scale of plastic bag production, a source from the EPCCD told Dawn on Friday.
According to WWF-Pakistan, the country consumes 55 billion plastic bags annually, with a 15% expected annual increase. The average per capita plastic consumption in Pakistan is 6.5 kilograms, comparable to the combined weight of all vital organs in the human body. Over a lifetime, an average Pakistani consumes enough plastic to equal the weight of at least five adults, contributing to a growing “plastic population” that could eventually outnumber fish in the oceans.
In 2022, Pakistan imported virgin resin worth USD 3 billion, significantly higher than the USD 707 million spent on tea imports. Recognizing the urgent need to control plastic production and use, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has decided to ban plastic bags from June 5. The environment department will monitor registered premises to ensure compliance and conduct vigilance operations to identify unregistered production units.
Senior Minister for Environment Protection Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral interventions and institutionalized efforts within the Punjab Planning & Development Department. The focus is on responsible consumption and production, facilitating businesses to transition to sustainable practices.
EPCCD Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar highlighted the legislative support and stakeholder engagement in the plastic-free Punjab program. The government has banned single-use plastic bags in its departments, schools, and public spaces, creating “Safe Zones” to promote non-plastic bag use. National and multinational corporations, as well as Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies, have been encouraged to conduct plastic audits and comply with sustainable production standards.
This comprehensive approach aims to eliminate plastic pollution and foster a cleaner, healthier environment for Punjab.
Story by Mansoor Malik
