The deadline for banning the sale and use of thin shopping bags expired on December 10, prompting the government and the Department of Environment and Climate Change to initiate a major crackdown starting today (Wednesday).
Shopkeepers across the Rawalpindi Division, including grocery store owners, will face fines and penalties for using thin plastic bags. Penalties include sealing shops for three days and fines ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000. The operation is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Environment, District Administration, and Food Authority, with support from the police.
The government has approved using 75-micron thick shopping bags, contingent on payment of a significant license fee, while completely banning thinner variants.
According to the Food Authority, manufacturers of thick shopping bags must pay an annual tax of Rs300,000 per machine. Wholesale dealers will be taxed Rs200,000 annually, and shopkeepers, including those selling groceries, milk, meat, fruits, and vegetables, will need to pay Rs100,000 annually and obtain a license. The renewal fee for the license is set at Rs50,000.
President of the Grocery Merchant Association, Saleem Pervez Butt, criticized the tax, labeling it unjust. “Grocery shops typically spend Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 per month on shopping bags. An annual tax of Rs100,000 is disproportionate, especially when 90% of shops have stock worth only Rs100,000 to Rs150,000,” he said, urging the government to review the policy.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema emphasized the strict enforcement of the ban on thin shopping bags. “The crackdown begins today,” he stated.
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