PLASTIC bags are a major contributor to pollution of the environment, and the ban imposed by the government should be enforced stringently. It is unfortunate that they are still being widely used and are readily available in the market.

The problem is more serious than it appears as it has been proved beyond a shadow of doubt that plastic bags are a major cause of water pollution. These are also responsible for making our agricultural lands infertile and causing other serious problems. Many countries have banned the use of plastic bags to ensure a cleaner and greener environment.

Our country has passed laws to ban the use of plastic bags. However, the implementation of this rule has been haphazard.

It is time we understood the intensity with which plastic is destroying our environment and making life difficult for plants, animals, marine creatures as well as mankind. The use of plastic must be discouraged to ensure a cleaner environment.

Syed Aamir Hussain

Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2019