KARACHI, Jan 26 After 30 days of its previous order in connection with the prohibition of production, sale and use of polythene bags in the city, the home department of Sindh has issued another notification extending the ban but with a change in the criterion of polythene bags.

According to the handout of the Sindh government issued on Monday under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a ban has been imposed on manufacturing, sale and use of polythene bags below 150 microns in thickness and size smaller than 18X24 inches in Karachi with immediate effect and any violation of the order shall attract penal action under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

In the last week of December, 2008, the home department had issued a notification imposing a ban on manufacturing, sale and use of polythene bags having 300 or less microns thickness in Karachi for 30 days under Section 144 of the CrPC.

A source in the city government has said that the latest notification is enforced from Jan 25 for a period of 30 days.

However, any immediate implementation of the new notification is not possible as there is an injunction by the Sindh High Court restraining the CDGK from taking action against the polythene bag manufacturers and dealers till the next hearing on Feb 19.