Two major environmentally-friendly initiatives have been taken by the government to improve the living standards for citizens.
One is to combat the menace of plastic shopping bags that pose a hazard to the natural habitat. Second is to control deforestration in the country and boost conservation of forests.
Environmently-Friendly Shopping Bags
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has taken it upon themselves to introduce environment friendly shopping bags in collaboration with four companies.
This initiative has already been launched in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) areas. Sources at Climate Change Division (CCD) stated that in addition to renowned stores in ICT which are already doing so, small departmental stores have also been instructed to use the bio-degradable shopping bags.
It should be mentioned that unlike plastic bags, biodegradable bags can decompose in time. This ensures that these bags don’t end up littering the environment or choke off places such as sewers, etc.
Pak-EPA met with Pakistan Business Council where the future of this project was discussed. Manufacturing details have also been requested from ICT and Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad.
Controlling Deforestation
National Forest Policy 2015 was also discussed by PM Nawaz in consultation with other provinces and various stakeholders.
From regulating inter-provincial timber movement to implementing REDD Plus (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) programme and trade have been proposed to minimize deforestation and promote conservation.
Sources claim that Pakistan has aimed to conserve mangrove forests under Mangrove for the Future Programme (MFF). Along with that, source also stated that the emphasis of this initiative to empower the coastal communities and educate them regarding the use of resources.
Ministry of Climate Change is working closely with REDD+ to achieve this task which falls under PM’s Green Pakistan Programme (GPP). Two billion rupees have been allocated over the course of five years for the cause.
good step
Big stores In Lahore are already using these bags for quite some time now.. but they charge Rs.3 to 5 per bag
5 cents isn’t a big deal, I’d say!
Big stores in Lahore? You mean hyper and metro? may be couple more.
They are not even 0.5% of total usage in lahore.
just 2.5% green area in Pakistan. issi government may 4% sy 2.5% ho gya. great going. government got thousands and thousands of hectare. why not give this land on lease basis to private sector? government k lia huay plants ka haal ap hr TMA may dekh sktay hain. jb tk private sector ko involve nhe krtay yeh kuch nhe kr sktay.
Good Step, better late then never.
Great initiative. All the best!
Those Plastic Bags should be banned now! That would be a great initiative too, and the 2nd part of this decisions!
May I ask the author to please correct the spelling of first word of heading: “Enivronment”
A lot of companies are using these bags in Lahore and Pakistan. Look for the ADDIFLEX logo on the bottom of these bags to identify them. Most of the stores are not charging anything extra but contributing on their own account.