GILGIT: The use of plastic shopping bags has been banned in Hunza in order to prevent environmental degradation.

According to a notice issued by Hunza district administration on Monday, Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GBEPA) and Hunza district administration decided to impose ban on use of plastic bags in the district.

The decision was taken in light of implications of plastic bags usage on environmental and human health, it said.

The notice warned shopkeepers and people dealing in plastic bags to end already existing stock of such bags till April 20, as after the date, manufacture, sale, purchase and their usage would be considered a crime, the notice said.

The district administration advised people and businesses community to use bags made from paper and clothing.

Meanwhile, the district administration has also started an awareness campaign in this regard by displaying notices at various points with the messages ‘say no to plastic bags, avoid use of plastic bags to save future coming generations’.

Meanwhile, GB chief secretary Mohammad Khurram Agha inaugurated Kharfaq Irrigation and Land Development (ILD) Project in Ganche district on Monday.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2019