PESHAWAR: The Peshawar district administration on Wednesday seized 8,000 kilogrammes of polythene bags and sealed 32 shops during a crackdown in the main wholesale market on the Ashraf Road here

Eight shopkeepers were also arrested during the operation supervised by deputy commissioner Mohammad Ali Asghar, according to a statement.

Mr Asghar said provincial government had banned sale and use of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic bags. He said the University Road area and Hayatabad Township had already been declared polythene-free zones.

He said polythene bags were hazardous to environment as they did not dissolve and choked drains. He directed the officials to carry out daily operations in their respective areas.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2021