QUETTA: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday imposed a ban on the use, sale, purchase and manufacture of polythene bags in the provincial capital with immediate effect.

A notification issued by the EPA said the use of polythene bags was an offence as per the Balochistan Environmental Protection Act. Anyone who violated the ban will be penalised under the law, it added.

It said large-scale business units could be fined from Rs100,000 to Rs500,000, medium-size units Rs80,000 to Rs200,000 and small-scale units Rs20,000 to Rs150,000.

Provincial Environment Secretary Saboor Kakar said district administration and police could impose the fine.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2020