RAWALPINDI: On the directives of the Punjab government, the district administration will implement the ban on the use of plastic bags, disposable plates, containers and cups used by restaurants and bakeries from June 5.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema on Saturday made it clear that those using plastic bags, disposable plates, containers and cups for food would face legal action.

However, restaurant owners and bakers said the government should not launch such a drive as it would be difficult for them to use expensive paper-made disposable utensils and bags. A meeting was held at the deputy commissioner office in which all stakeholders, including manufacturers, recyclers and consumers, were present.

An assistant director environment gave a briefing on the enforcement of the Punjab Environmental Protection (Production and Consumption of Single-Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2023 in Rawalpindi.

DC warns violators of action; eateries’ body says alternative should be provided before implementing ban

The briefing included a presentation on alternative materials to single-use plastics, emphasising the importance of compliance with the new regulations. The deputy commissioner warned that non-compliance would result in legal action against violators.

To ensure enforcement, price control magistrates will be equipped with plastic bag thickness measuring gauges. Starting on June 5, plastic bags with a thickness of less than 75 microns will be confiscated. Moreover, he encouraged stakeholders to consider more sustainable alternatives, such as cloth bags and paper, steel or wooden cutlery. This shift is not only aimed at protecting the environment but also at safeguarding human health.

Multinational food chains use quality products to serve people and these cups and glass are made from paper products instead of chemical-based utensils.

“Mostly people do not know that the food may get contaminated and become injurious to health and the government wanted to save people from this poison,” he said.

This meeting underscored Rawalpindi’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable practices, setting a robust precedent for the region’s approach to reducing plastic pollution.

Meanwhile, Restaurants, Sweets and Bakers Association Chairman Mumtaz Ahmed demanded that an alternative solution should be provided first before implementing the ban. He said there were 450,000 units making plastic bags in Punjab.

“As many as 750,000 employees work in them. A ban is being imposed on such a large industry, but no alternative solution has been formally devised,” he said.

“The ban on plastic bags should be applied not only in Rawalpindi, but in the entire Punjab without discrimination. Tax-free factories for drinking straws should be set up in Pakistan to manufacture straws according to government initiatives. In order to make cloth bags, the cloth mills should use the waste cloth found in their mills to make bags of small and big sizes,” he said.

He said they fully support the government’s initiative, but the procedure to implement the ban is not correct.

“There are more factories in Lahore and Karachi. The Environment Department should have provided awareness on its damages, the cost of the substitute items is higher which will directly affect the customers,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2024