Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday imposed a ban on plastic bags usage in the city’s shopping malls and megastores — in addition to allotting a 15-day time frame to revert to eco-friendlier packaging materials instead, a news source reported.
Justice Shahid Karim gave these directives in response to an application moved by Haroon Farooq, asking the Punjab government to ban the usage, manufacturing, and sale of plastic products. During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi told the court that the provincial chief secretary had promised a full bench in October last year that the government would prohibit the use of plastic bags. However, he added that no steps in this regard had been taken since. The barrister argued that the acts of the government violated Article 9 and 14 of the Constitution, which deal with the essential rights of the citizens.
Barrister Niazi further stated that plastic bags could damage the sewerage system, cause soil and water pollution, and have a detrimental effect on the environment. The plastic bags are not only dangerous for human health but also harm animals and aquatic life.
After
hearing the counsel’s arguments, Justice Karim reiterated the negative effects
of plastic bags and imposed a ban on plastic usage in all megastores and
shopping malls. The meeting was adjourned until next Friday.
