Islamabad: Parliamentary officials announced plans to phase out the use of plastic bags in Parliament House and other government buildings, according to a news source.
These plans were drafted by a subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change. Eventually, they will be executed in the capital, and then in other parts of the country.
An official from the Ministry of Climate Change told the committee that both biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic bags are harmful to the environment, and are hazardous for humans, cattle, and sea life. As a result, the committee decided to phase out plastic bags usage completely, rather than just sanctioning the use of biodegradable plastics.
The officials present also discussed the issues of hazardous waste disposal methods, mixing of hospital and municipal waste, and spreading awareness among citizens. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was directed to air public service messages concerned with protecting the environment and the usage of plastic bags to increase awareness. They also shared suggestions about encouraging the employment of reusable cloth bags as viable alternatives to plastic.
