SWABI: The officials and academic staff of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology said here on Thursday that keeping in view the menace caused across the country by the ubiquitous plastic shopping bag, it has been decided in principle to ban its use on the campus.

The ban immediately came into force and all faculty members, officials and shopping areas, including hotel owners, cafeteria and central mess staff have been told to follow the orders and uphold the ban.

Jehangir Bashar, rector GIK Institute said that the outlets had complied by arranging bags made of biodegradable material.

“All the retail outlets on campus, including private, have been asked to comply,” said an official. A professor said that the plastic polluted the atmosphere and whenever there were flood, it choked drains which caused serious damage of property and resources.

All those who study or live in the institute’s campus have been advised to cooperate with the administration.

“This (ban) step taken by the institute will contribute to the preservation of the environment,” the rector said, adding that they were proud of the lush green and clean environment of the campus.

TOKEN STRIKE: Teachers of the Working Folks Grammar Schools observed a token strike here on Thursday against the failure of the government to pay them their salary for the last three months.

They warned that if they were not paid salary they would not teach to the students till meeting of their single demand.

They said that the officials concerned had dodged them and it caused serious unrest among the teachers and parents of the students because when the teaching staff was on strike who would teach the children.

“The government is responsible for the entire mess,” said a teacher.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2016