PESHAWAR: The district administration has arrested 16 shopkeepers for selling locally-manufactured plastic bags used for gas storage.

They were arrested during a drive against the plastic bags on Ashraf road and in Garhi Qamardin areas on Sunday.

The plastic bags, with nozzles and valves fixed tightly, are filled with natural gas supply lines. It is stored and used during gasoutage.

The raids were conducted on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Shafiullah Khan as the use of plastic bags for gas storage had become common and risked lives and property of people.

The shopkeepers selling the plastic bags in both the areas were booked under the law and the bags were confiscated.

The bag, according a user, can be filled in an hour. “The gas stored in a six-foot long bag is enough to be used for one day,” said a man living on outskirts of the provincial capital. He stated that the gas supply remained suspended and the gas stored was used during loadshedding.

The man, who requested anonymity, said that he had been using the plastic bag at his home for more than a year. He added that not only he but many others in his neighbourhood used the plastic bag.

He stated that a compressor was must for filling the plastic bag and supplying the gas from plastic bag to the kitchen. “It does not work without pressure. The bag needs to be placed outside the kitchen in order to avoid any mishap,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Shafiullah, when contacted, said that polythene bags filled with gas and stored at homes were really dangerous. “It poses serious threats to life and property. The drive against the plastic bags will continue,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2022