RAWALPINDI: Though a ban has not been imposed on polythene bags in Rawalpindi and the Potohar region, local traders and business community have expressed the concerns on raids being conducted in Islamabad to enforce the ban.

The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has expressed concerns on the raids, sealing and closure of shops and food outlets for violating the ban.

In a statement, RCCI President Malik Shahid Saleem said the chamber had received complaints about raids and harassment of traders by the government machinery, mainly the Ministry of Climate Change, against the use of polythene bags.

He said recently the officials of the Ministry of Climate Change and Pakistan Environment Protection Agency raided a food outlet in Islamabad for inspection and implementation of the new ‘no plastic bags’ policy.

The matter was brought into the notice of the district administration and resolved amicably. However, an affidavit was later made viral on social media which not only damaged the reputation of the outlet but also caused defamation of its staff.

“We condemn this kind of behaviour from the government ministry.”

The RCCI president said traders were already showing compliance to environment friendly polythene bags.

Traders do support the government initiative of plastic free and environment friendly business activities.

However, a detailed mapping of opportunities in the industry for recycling of plastic, cost and availability of substitutes of single-use plastic bags is needed.

The end users need to be taken on board in a way that instead of being motivated by legal compulsions, they voluntarily ask for eco-friendly substitutes.

He said the government should also improve its waste management system and introduce a new policy for recycling plants.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2019