LAHORE: The problem of plastic use is getting worse daily and most people are unaware of the damage caused by plastic bags to the environment.

Plastic bags take nearly 150 years to decompose, releasing harmful toxins into the air, which can lead to adverse environmental conditions, this message was spread by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab on Thursday on the International Plastic Bag-Free Day.

The day is commemorated annually to prompt the citizens to question their reliance on plastics and explore ways to reduce their use.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has pledged to make the province plastic-free.

“The usage of eco-friendly cloth and paper bags is being promoted instead of plastic bags in the province. Plastic bags give a little convenience to the people in their daily lives, but they cause colossal destruction by remaining in the environment for centuries,” she said in her statement on the day. She added that plastic bags could cause loss of soil fertility, clog drainage systems and exterminate aquatic life.

The usage of plastic can cause cancer and other fatal diseases as well, she said and added that, “A culture of implementing environmental laws is being strictly enforced in the markets and factories to eliminate the trend of usage of plastic bags across Punjab”.

Special Environment Squads under supervision of EPA Director General Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh conducted 136,961 raids in Punjab last year and confiscated 253,485 kg plastic bags out of which 6393 raids were conducted in Lahore and 72,097 kg plastic bags were seized.

Mr Sheikh told a seminar here that so far 556 producers, consumers, collectors and recyclers had been registered with the PMIS.

Environment Protection & Climate Change Department (EPCCD) Secretary Silwat Saeed said the government had banned the entry of single-use plastic bags in its departments, schools and other public spaces. A panel discussion was also held during the session in which different proposals to tackle the plastic related problems were discussed.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025