ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: The government is considering banning manufacture of plastic bags of less than 30 microns thickness, Environment Minister Maj (retired) Tahir Iqbal said on Friday. He was speaking at a meeting of stakeholders in the tetra- pack and polythene bags industry on Friday.

The meeting was held to discuss measures to effectively phase out the use of non-degradable and harmful polythene and plastic material and to introduce safer alternatives. It should be recalled that manufacture and use of black and non-food grade plastic bags is already prohibited.

The purpose of banning the production of less than 30 microns thickness plastic bags is to promote the manufacture and use of better quality bags with more thickness, which could be re-used over and over again.

The federal minister further emphasized on implementation of the existing rules and regulations regarding environmental protection and said the provincial and local governments would constitute special environmental committees in this regard.

Additionally, environmental committees would be set up at tehsil and town level for improved collection and disposal of plastic bags, tetra-packs and plastic bottles.

Proposals for replacing polythene with recyclable and degradable polypropylene and/or with a starch containing photodegradable and biodegradable material were discussed. Environmental Protection Agency was asked by the environment minister to carry out and submit detailed research reports for adopting these alternatives to polythene.