KARACHI, Feb 1: The stakeholders of polythene bag business have suggested revitalisation of paper bag industry to ensure availability of a suitable substitute for the plastic bags (popularly known as shopping bags) following the effective implementation of the ban on manufacture, sale and use of plastic bags below 30-micron thickness.

A meeting of the stakeholders was held here on Thursday under the auspices of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) to discuss various options leading to the successful implementation of the ban.

The ordinance was promulgated in Sindh in June last year and, according to a source, Sepa had accordingly started the process of formulating rules and regulations in this regard.

The meeting, chaired by Secretary of the Environment and Alternative Energy Department, Sindh, Mir Hussain Ali, was also attended by representatives of the paper manufacturing industry who said they had the capacity to provide raw material for manufacturing the proposed paper bags as a substitute to the banned bags.

The meeting stressed the need for motivating the end-users of plastic bags to switch over to paper bags or some other biodegradable means.

People should be educated on the ill-effects of polythene bags and, at the same time, the small industries manufacturing plastic bags should be duly cared, rehabilitated or compensated against the loss of their business resulting from the ban, it maintained.

Some of the participants pointed out that efforts should also be made for inducting mechanised units to manufacture paper bags as the existing manual manufacturing of the product might not cater to the huge requirement. At present, no mechanised unit exists to produce paper bags in bulk.

It was also stressed that the government should offer special incentives for the promotion of paper bag manufacturing on a large scale. Such incentives may include extending bank loans to the manufacturers and relaxation of the relevant import duties.

The meeting was further told that the plastic bag manufacturers switching over to the business of paper bag manufacturing should also be accommodated and provided financial support by the government.

The meeting decided to identify more stakeholders and involve them in the efforts to discourage use of polythene bags. Besides, more ways and means be explored to persuade the end-users of polythene bags to switch over to various new alternatives.

WARNING: Meanwhile, Secretary of the Environment and Alternative Energy Department Mir Hussain Ali has warned employees of his department and Sepa to ensure their availability at their offices by 9.30am sharp to avoid appropriate action under the Removal of Services Ordinance.