Lahore: The Punjab government has launched a new policy regarding plastic bags used in the province, a news source reported. Punjab Law, Parliamentary Affairs, & Social Welfare Minister Raja Basharat chaired a meeting of the Environment Protection Department (EPD) in this regard.
The meeting discussed the harmful effects of using plastic bags on the environment. Several officials concerned, along with representatives of the Plastic Bags Manufacturing Association, attended the meeting.
The officials of the EPD and the plastic bag association finalised matters pertaining to the thickness and size of plastic bags. In order to eliminate sub-standard polythene bags, the meeting decided to increase the thickness of plastic bags from 15 microns to 50 microns.
Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan stated that the government does not aim to put people out of jobs in order to cut down use of plastic bags. However, he added, that it was not practical to put the lives of millions of people at risk in a bid to maintain profits.
