THE Sindh government has once again announced a ban on the use of plastic bags throughout the province. Towards the end of 2018, the Sindh government imposed a similar ban, but failed to implement it owing to one reason or the other.

The growing use of plastic bags not only affects marine life which provides us 75 per cent breathable oxygen, it is nothing short of a plague for human health.

According to a report, every human being ingests up to five grams of plastic a week. This ingestion causes liver dysfunction, diabetes and diarrhea. The use of plastic has been increasing despite public awareness about its devastating and hazardous effects.

This time Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has strongly pledged to curb the use of plastic bags throughout the province and replace them with cloth bags. He has also arranged public awareness campaigns.

It is time we worked together with the government to curb plastic by using cloth. It is my request to every Pakistani to switch to cloth bags.

Aftab Ahmed Bhatti

Thul, Jacobabad

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2019