RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Environment Protection Agency (Punjab-EPA) will declare Rawalpindi the first district headquarters where the complete elimination of single-use plastic will be ensured from June.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, Director General Punjab Environment Protection Agency Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh said that clear laws and regulations are in place regarding the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags, under which fines, sealing, and other legal actions are being taken against violators.

He said that the Environmental Protection Agency, in accordance with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, is taking effective steps to make the province plastic-free. In this regard, district headquarters across the province will be freed from single-use plastic in a phased manner from June, with Rawalpindi to be the first district headquarters where complete elimination is ensured.

Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh further said that the agency has adopted a phased strategy to avoid negative impacts on business activities. He clarified that, with the cooperation of stakeholders and industrialists, eco-friendly plastic bags with a thickness of more than 75 microns are available in the market and their use is being promoted.

He announced that plastic-free zones are being established in Rawalpindi, and this process is being expanded to traditional markets to ensure effective implementation across the city. The Punjab EPA director general appreciated the efforts of the district administration, environment department, and other relevant institutions, saying that with their joint efforts, the campaign can be made successful.

On the occasion, district administration officials said that plastic bags remain in the environment for a long time and their negative effects are now clearly visible, leaving no room for further delay.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2026