Gilgit: The Hunza district administration has decided to impose a ban on the use of plastic bags, a news source reported. The said authority recently released a notification to this effect. In its proceedings to enforce this ban, the district administration will work alongside the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GBEPA).
The Hunza district administration stated that it has taken this measure in light of the negative implications of plastic bag usage on both human and environmental health. According to the issued notification, the authority has warned shopkeepers and other people dealing in plastic bags to relinquish their existing stocks of the said commodity by April 20, 2019. The notice states that after this date, the sale, purchase, manufacturing, and usage of such bags will be treated as a crime.
As an ecologically-friendly alternative to plastic bags, the district administration has advised the public and business community to use paper or cloth bags. It has also initiated an awareness campaign by displaying relevant notices at several key locations in the area. These bear a number of awareness-oriented messages, such as ‘say no to plastic bags’ and ‘avoid use of plastic bags to save future coming generations’.
