NOWSHERA, May 23: Speakers at a seminar on Wednesday demanded enforcement of a law to regulate manufacturing, sale and use of polythene bags to prevent damage to environment.

The seminar was organised by the International Research Exchange at Government Higher School, Akbarpura, to discuss environmental problems caused by polythene bags, and ways and means to prevent them.

Professor Sardar Khan of Peshawar University told participants that polythene bags endangered the people’s health and environment and therefore, a law should be made to regulate their manufacturing, sale and use in the country. He said the issue had become more serious as the people discarded polythene bags in the open after use and thus, threatening environment.

Local Islamic scholar Ihsanullah Khan said Islam advocated cleanliness as filthiness led to health problems.

“Followers of all religions should maintain cleanliness in order to provide good environment to all human beings,” he said.

Environmental expert Tahir Rahim declared use of polythene bags a global issue and said one million polythene bags were used daily in the country.

“In Pakistan, every person uses at least six polythene bags a week on average. This is a big problem. We need to take measures to discourage their use before the problem goes out of control,” he said.

Mr Rahim said Pakistan was among top 10 countries of the world where unregulated use of polythene bags posed serious threats to people’s life. —Correspondent