Sindh Bans Plastic Bags

In a decisive move to protect the environment, the Sindh government has announced a complete ban on the manufacturing, sale, and use of plastic bags across the province, including Karachi.

According to the Sindh Environment Department, the ban will officially come into effect following formal approval from the provincial cabinet on April 15. Once enforced, violations will be treated as legal offenses, with offenders facing prosecution, arrests, and fines.

The department highlighted that plastic bags are a major source of environmental degradation, contributing significantly to marine pollution and sewage system blockages.

On World Plastic Bag Free Day, Senator Sherry Rehman, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, expressed concern over Pakistan’s staggering consumption of 55 billion plastic bags annually, with usage increasing by 15% each year.

Senator Rehman emphasized the urgent need for the nation to reflect on the harmful impact of single-use polythene bags, which lead to pollution and water stagnation and pose serious threats to human health, aquatic life, and wildlife.

“Polythene bags can take centuries to decompose,” she warned, “and their growing accumulation is a major challenge for waste management in both urban and rural areas.”