Despite the official ban on manufacturing, sale and use of polythene bags, these bags are extensively used all over the country including Karachi even for carrying food, meat, milk and other eatables, which shows the negligence of concerned officials to get the ban strictly implemented.
The Sindh government imposed ban on polythene bags in February this year, with the governor promulgating an ordinance prescribing a maximum punishment of three months and/or a fine of up to Rs 50,000 for making, selling and using polythene bags.
The ordinance says no person shall manufacture, sale or use polythene bags less then 30 micron in thickness and offer any kind of eatable and non-eatable goods in such bags, while the use of black polythene bags was totally banned.
NGOs and environmentalists want a complete ban on manufacturing, sale and use of all kind of polythene bags, but the government seemed not interested to completely ban these anti-environmental bags. It has allowed the manufacturing of bags up to 30-micron in thickness but it is not possible to check the specification.
In olden days, people used to carry straw baskets or cloth handbags while shopping, but over the years, they became accustomed to polythene bags. Nowadays, cooked food, meat, milk and other products are sold in these bags.
These bags obstruct sewerage lines and their burning causes environmental and health hazards. The bags are harmful because they are carcinogenic in nature and when burnt in garbage, they produce deadly gasses, which if inhaled could be toxic and cause serious ailments. They are especially lethal for patients of asthma.
Now when the hazards of polythene bags are known to almost every one, and when a proper law against them is there, it is intriguing to see unabated manufacturing, sale and use of them. This indicates towards lack of seriousness of our health and environmental departments.
The citizens of the opinion that the government should take visible steps to implement the ban on dangerous polythene bags in the letter and spirit.