EPA Seizes Over 13,000 kg of Banned Polythene Bags

APP

Multan: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has seized a total of 13,788 kg of plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 75 microns from various areas of the district during the past week.

Assistant Director of Environment Hameed Akhtar informed APP that the crackdown on wholesale dealers of plastic bags followed recent amendments to the “Production and Consumption of Single-Use Plastic Product Regulations 2023.” He added that two teams were formed for this operation, during which multiple units were sealed, and FIRs were filed against violators.

EPA Director General Punjab praised the Multan team for their efforts and reiterated the agency’s commitment to combatting polythene bags, which pose significant environmental risks. He emphasized that the crackdown would continue until the complete eradication of such products.

The EPA urged the public, shopkeepers, and industrialists to adopt eco-friendly alternatives and comply with environmental laws to avoid severe legal consequences.

The agency also issued a stern warning, stating that those involved in the production, sale, or transportation of banned polythene bags would face a zero-tolerance policy, with even stricter measures to be implemented in the coming days.