KARACHI: Law on polythene bags to remain ineffective
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Nov 29: The Sindh Prohibition of Manufacturing, sale and use of Polythene Bags Bill-2006, passed into law by the Sindh Assembly in its previous session and now pending the governor’s signatures for promulgation, will prove to be a ‘toothless law’ in the absence of relevant rules.
Besides, no court would be able to take cognizance of its violation unless and until a written complaint is made to a court of law by the director general or some other official of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency.
The bill prohibits manufacturing, sale or use of black polythene bag, polythene bags below 30 micron thickness or an unadvisable size for any kind of eatable or non-eatable goods.
The offence is punishable under Section 4 of the Bill which prescribes an extendable imprisonment of three months and/or a fine of up to Rs50,000.
Anyone found guilty of committing the offence again after being convicted under this law is liable to be handed the punishment which may be up to double the maximum term and fine amount.
PPP MPA Shazia Marri, who had submitted a private bill of similar nature on the subject about one year before Governor Ishratul Ibad issued the ordinance, told Dawn that it was quite disappointing to note that the bill provided for a written complaint by SEPA as a must for any court of law to take cognizance of the law’s violation.
“This has practically nullified the very spirit of law and chances of its effectiveness as the agency does not exist for any practical purpose,” she remarked.
Criticising the adoption of too many bills in a matter of minutes taking advantage of opposition’s absence from the house during the most recent session of the assembly, Ms Marri claimed that the aim of treasury benches was to show its performance and it was in a hurry to do so.
“The opposition was insisting that all these bills be sent to select committees for getting lacunae removed before their enactment. However, the government, in hurry to show its performance, did not bother to follow the rules of business for legislation.”
