TAXILA: The district administration of Attock observed Thursday as World Environment Day to mark the beginning of the ‘Say no to plastic’ campaign across the district.

The Punjab government has announced a ban on plastic bags across the province from June 5.

A walk was organised in Attock to create awareness of the effects of plastic shopping bags. Additional deputy commissioner general Aneel Saeed led the walk which was attended by additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Waqas Aslam Marth, Assistant Commissioner city Shagufta Jabin, Chief Officer Attock Municipality Sardar Aftab Ahmed Khan and others.

The walk started at Committee Chowk and concluded at Fawara Chowk. The participants were carrying placards inscribed with environment-friendly slogans, including “No to plastic bags”, ‘Cleanliness is half faith, ‘Plastic bags are enemies of the environment and ‘Put the trash in dustbins’. Pamphlets regarding government ban on sale and use of plastic bags were also distributed among traders, shopkeepers and the general public.

Later, additional deputy commissioner general Aneel Saeed briefed the media about the campaign regarding the ban on the use of plastic bags. He said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had approved the ban on the use of plastic bags from June 5. He called for the need to involve the youth to support the campaign, saying plastic bags, emission and pollution were a matter of concern for all members of society.

Mr Saeed added that the district administration had implemented a zero-tolerance policy to ensure the ban on plastic shoppers and other items.

Responding to a question, he said that the alternative products for plastic-like cloth bags and other degradable plastic would be introduced in the city before penalising the citizens and the district administration was holding meetings with traders and other stakeholders in that regard.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2024