ISLAMABAD: Farzana Altaf Shah, Director General of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), confiscated single-use plastics from the Parliament’s Cafeteria today, following a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
The move came after media reports highlighted a clear violation of the ban on single-use plastics within the legislative premises. Shah emphasized that the enforcement drive was ongoing and public awareness efforts were being ramped up.
According to the federal government’s executive order issued on June 5, 2023, the use of all single-use plastics, including shopping bags, cutlery, bottles, glassware, and food containers, has been banned.
The Pak-EPA has conducted numerous stakeholder awareness sessions and ongoing public education campaigns, supported by the district administration, alongside enforcing the ban.
Shah announced that a fine would be imposed on the cafeteria owner for the flagrant breach of the ban. Earlier, she informed the Senate Committee that 16 enforcement teams had been established to ensure compliance with the ban.
To date, the Pak-EPA has seized approximately 33,000 kilograms of plastic.
Informative banners about the restrictions on single-use plastics have been prominently displayed at all major entrances in the federal capital. The Pak-EPA’s crackdown on single-use plastics aims to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable practices in Pakistan.