1,500kg of Illegal Plastic Bags Seized as EPA Tightens Grip

APP

Multan: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confiscated 1,500 kilograms of substandard polythene bags as part of a crackdown following the Punjab government’s ban on single-use plastic and shopping bags with a thickness of less than 75 microns.

Assistant Director Environment, Hameed Akhtar, informed APP on Sunday that EPA teams have inspected 1,203 shops since June 5, 2024, and imposed fines totaling Rs10,000 on shopkeepers for violating the ban.

The agency is conducting daily inspections to enforce the provincial orders aimed at reducing environmental pollution caused by plastic.

The initiative, which is designed to protect public health, targets the use of plastic bags less than 75 microns thick. Factories have started producing thicker, eco-friendly bags in compliance with the new regulations.

The crackdown, which began on June 6, 2024, also focuses on breakfast vendors in Multan, educating them on the harmful effects of thin plastic bags and promoting sustainable alternatives.

As part of its broader efforts to reduce pollution, EPA teams inspected 281 brick kilns in Lodhran district, filing cases against 25 kiln owners for violating zigzag kiln technology regulations, and imposing fines amounting to Rs200,000.

In a parallel initiative, the Agriculture Department conducted raids against the burning of stubble and crop residue, identifying 12 instances of illegal burning. Two FIRs were registered, and fines totaling Rs292,500 were imposed.

Additionally, the traffic police launched an operation against smoke-emitting vehicles, inspecting 744 vehicles and issuing 315 challans. A total fine of Rs600,000 was imposed. An awareness campaign is also underway to inform citizens about measures to mitigate smog.