ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to implement the Prohibition of Non-degradable Plastic Products Regulations, 2013, and the Environment Protection Act, 1997 to limit the use of plastic shopping bags.
In this regard, CDA Chairman Muhammad Usman Younis has decided to pursue a two-pronged strategy, instructing the relevant officials to raise awareness about the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and to start operations to seize them from both urban and rural regions of ICT.
The chairman stated, “We use non-degradable bags despite knowing that the product is not only harmful to health but also pollutes the environment and obstructs sewerage pipelines.”
He added that such shopping bags could not be disposed of for 100 years and also hurt the fertility of soil when buried anywhere.
Director General Enforcement has been tasked by CDA’s senior management with conducting an operation in the federal capital’s rural and urban districts to seize shopping bags and stop the use of products that are harmful to health.
The management has also given instructions calling for the adoption and introduction of natural fiber-based eco-friendly bags into the market.
According to a CDA official, in the past 2 years, raiding teams have seized 200 kg of shopping bags from Aabpara Market, marketplaces in various G and I series sectors, Khanna Bridge, Bhara Kahu, Kuri Road, Park Road, Tarnol, and Koral.
