KARACHI, March 15: A number of polythene bag wholesalers kept their shutters down in major markets of the city as specially constituted teams were fielded for the first time under a government campaign aimed at the elimination of the manufacture, sale and use of polythene bags below 30 microns thickness on Thursday.
According to market sources, wholesalers were confused about the official actions and modus operandi of the teams. Since we were not sure how the teams would determine the exact thickness of a polythene bag and their purposed action under Section 144, we decided to close our shops under a wait and see policy, said a manufacturer in Jodia Bazar.
Sindh Environment and Alternative Energy Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmad told Dawn that five teams went round markets of the city with officials of the city government, police and revenue departments and confiscated polythene bags of the banned category.
They not only seized these bags from wholesalers but retailers, shopkeepers and vendors.
At a review meeting, however, Dr Ahmad, told the teams members that the purpose was not to harass people but work under a strategy that resulted in voluntarily abandoning use of such bags.
The minister said severe corrective measures, if needed, would be introduced in the coming week. We prefer cooperation from and observance of relevant laws by producers and wholesalers, he added.
A shopkeeper in Gulberg town said plastic bags were favoured for reasons that they weighed less, were durable and convenient for packing food stuff and other items besides virtually no cost to the end-user.
The five teams in their briefing, discussed the relevant operational problems as well with the environment minister. The teams are benefiting from the expert guidance of Sindh Environment Protection Agency, said a government official.
Karachi City Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday, had ordered a ban on the manufacture, sale and use of polythene bags of less than 30 microns thickness for 30 days. About 60kgs of the prohibited bags were taken away by the five teams, said an official.
KARACHI, March 15: A number of polythene bag wholesalers kept their shutters down in major markets of the city as specially constituted teams were fielded for the first time under a government campaign aimed at the elimination of the manufacture, sale and use of polythene bags below 30 microns thickness on Thursday.
