ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body on Thursday recommended cheaper and environmental-friendly bags to replace hazardous plastic bags after August this year.

PPP MNA Shazia Mari suggested to the Ministry of Climate Change that the cotton bags made to replace plastic bags after August were too expensive.

She was speaking during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change held to discuss various environmental concerns.

The committee was informed by Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Nasir Jamy that efforts were underway to eradicate the usage of plastic bags in Pakistan and in this regard the capital city would be made a role model.

The official briefed the committee on the plans to ban plastic bags after Aug 14, 2019, and to replace them with cotton bags. Plastics would be banned in the parliament building and government offices to set an example for the rest of the city and later to be replicated throughout the country.

The meeting learnt that oxy-biodegradable plastic bags were far more hazardous than normal plastic bags. Oxy-biodegradable bags disintegratedinto tiny, almost invisible pieces after reacting with elements such as air and sunlight and could be consumed by humans and particularly marine life.

The committee also discussed the implementation status of previous recommendations and suggested that representatives from all provinces be invited to attend the next meeting in order to review the progress made by all the federating units.

The committee also suggested that campaigns to create awareness among farmers and agriculturists about latest farming techniques to cope up with effects of climate change may be launched at the federal and provincial levels to increase crop productivity and avoid losses.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2019