Punjab Bans Businesses From Charging Customers for Plastic Shopping Bags

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a formal order banning all commercial establishments from charging customers for plastic shopping bags, effective September 6.

EPA Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh expressed concern that retailers have been charging high prices for plastic bags to generate extra profit while displaying their own branding.

This practice, he noted, has inadvertently increased plastic production and hindered the adoption of eco-friendly materials. According to the new directive, shops, restaurants, and hotels may only charge a fee for reusable or recyclable bags made from non-plastic materials.

To ensure compliance, the EPA chief instructed retailers to provide plastic bags free of charge if they choose to offer them at all, aiming to remove the profit incentive behind their distribution.

However, he urged consumers to act responsibly by reducing their reliance on single-use plastics and switching to sustainable alternatives.

Businesses that violate these instructions after the September 6 deadline face significant penalties, including fines ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000. Severe cases may result in the sealing of the premises and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).

This move follows recent efforts by the Punjab EPA to create plastic-free zones and implement a total ban on bags thinner than 75 microns across the province.