‘No to plastic’ campaign starts in Punjab from 5th

LAHORE:Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said a crackdown will be launched from June 5 on the factories manufacturing illegal plastic products and bags.

The senior minister has said the Punjab government is undertaking important steps in the perspective of 'No to Plastic' campaign. In a statement issued here on Sunday, the senior minister said this was being done on the special directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

A campaign has been launched to protect the masses from deadly diseases being caused by plastic usage. She said from June 5 preparations will be carried out to ensure strict implementation of a mechanism to ban the manufacture, production, distribution and sale of illegal plastic bags.

Plastic usage causes cancer and other deadly diseases. The usage of plastic is increasing environmental pollution and causing serious health issues, she said, adding a crackdown would be launched on the factories manufacturing illegal plastic products from June 5.

Earlier, numerous notices have been sent in this regard, she said and maintained that from June 5, hotels, restaurants and other eateries will be strictly prohibited from serving food in plastic bags to the customers.

A complete crackdown will be launched on the owners found involved in violating this prohibition and legal action will be taken against the eateries owners and heavy fines will also be imposed, she warned.

Senior Minister apprised that according to the law, the use of polythene bags of less than 75 microns and single-use plastic utensils has been completely banned. An awareness campaign on the topic of "Plastic is death" will be launched for the general public on non-usage of plastic. Public service messages will go viral through social media. Written messages will be pasted in shopping malls, offices, bus stands, parks, transports vehicles, Daewoo, metro buses and public places with regard to plastic ban, the minister said.

Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that instead of plastic bags usage, the production, sale and use of cotton bags or alternative sources will be promoted. Plastic causes death and we all have to work in unison to avoid its toxic and hazardous effects, she said.

She requested the media to contribute its valuable part for promoting awareness campaign that “plastic is death”. People should remember while buying plastic bags that they were landing themselves and others in big trouble, she concluded.