Though the ban on plastic bags came into force on Aug 14, people were still using them at the government-run Sunday bazaar in H-9. — Photo by Mohammad Asim
ISLAMABAD: The federal government’s ban on plastic and polythene shopping bags in the capital has yet to be fully implemented, with shopkeepers and customers having difficulty finding alternative bags.
The use of plastic bags was banned in Islamabad by a cabinet decision from Aug 14.
However, visits to various markets found that plastic bags were still in use – including in government controlled Sunday markets.
Plastic bags still in use at various markets
Shopkeepers and customers Dawn spoke to praised the government’s decision, saying that people would start using alternative bags as time goes on.
“Banning shopping bags is a big decision, and such initiatives take some time to properly implement,” an official from the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) who was deputed at the Sunday market in H-9, said.
He said he saw many customers who brought fabric bags to shop.
“We had two stalls at the market dealing exclusively with plastic bags, but we closed them today. Gradually, in the next phase, we will start action against stallholders who are using plastic bags,” he said.
He added that the management had shown some leniency towards stallholders on Sunday because they were unable to buy biodegradable bags from wholesalers due to the Eid holidays.
However, shopkeepers in the rural areas expressed no concerns regarding the ban, saying that they would begin using biodegradable bags when they get them.
“We heard there was a ban on plastic bags on the news, but we have no idea how to get rid of plastic bags as there is no alternate so far,” a grocery store owner in Bhara Kahu, Arshad Ali, said.
Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that the district administration and Ministry of Climate Change have been working to fully implement the ban.