KARACHI: The Sindh Environment Department has imposed a complete ban on all types of plastic bags in the province from June 15, 2025, an official notification has been issued.
As per the notification, all types of plastic shopping bags have been banned due to climate change and coastal development. The ban will also apply to non-degradable, oxo-degradable, black, and recycled plastic bags.
According to the notification, after the partial ban of 2019, the ban has now been completely imposed under the amendment to the Sindh Prohibition of Non-Degradable Plastic Products Rules, 2014.
According to the Sindh Environment Department, only eco-friendly bags will be allowed. The Environment Department says that it will adopt a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of plastic bags, as plastic bags are a basis of environmental destruction.
Earlier, a complete ban on the use of single-use plastic has been imposed across Punjab. Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement that a complete ban on plastic bags and single-use plastic is being imposed across the province, which will be strictly enforced.
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She said that the use of biodegradable bags will be promoted, and recycling infrastructure will be improved. She added that a crackdown will be carried out against illegal plastic factories, while hotels and restaurants will be banned from serving food in plastic.
An awareness campaign titled “Plastic is Death” will be launched to raise awareness among the public.
According to experts, the excessive use of plastic is causing serious problems, such as environmental pollution, human health problems, threats to aquatic life, an increase in garbage piles, and economic losses.
Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) Chief Executive Sahib Deen says that plastic severely affects the sewage system and clogs drains. According to him, 400 tons of plastic waste are generated in Lahore every day, which accumulates at dumping sites and poisons the environment.
Media reports say that, instead of decomposing for hundreds of years, plastic pollutes soil and water, which affects agricultural production. According to environmentalist Dr. Sadia Khalid, the presence of plastic in rivers, lakes, and oceans is proving fatal to aquatic life.
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Fish and other aquatic life eat plastic particles as food, which causes their deaths. In addition, toxic chemicals, such as BPA and phthalates, present in plastic are also extremely dangerous to human health, potentially causing cancer, infertility, and heart diseases.
According to international organizations, plastic will be responsible for 19% of toxic gases emitted worldwide by 2040.
Last year, 193 countries signed an agreement to eliminate plastic pollution. Currently, 430 million tons of plastic are produced in the world each year, two-thirds of which turns into waste after a short period of use.
