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Punjab Cracks Down: Plastic Bags Face Near-Total Ban
29 Apr
Summary
- Punjab EPA confiscated over 937,000 kg of plastic bags in under four months of 2026.
- A ban on plastic bags below 75 microns is forthcoming in Punjab's major markets.
- Enforcement actions in early 2026 have more than doubled the previous year's seizures.
The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accelerating efforts to establish plastic-free zones in major city markets, with a province-wide ban on plastic bags below 75 microns imminent. This initiative, timed before World Environment Day 2026 on June 5, signifies an intensified crackdown on plastic pollution.
Between January 1 and April 27, 2026, the EPA conducted 3,612 inspections, seizing 937,868 kg of plastic bags and imposing Rs3 million in fines. This volume of confiscated bags has already more than doubled the total recovered during the entirety of 2025, despite fewer inspections, indicating a shift towards targeted enforcement.
Multan led in plastic bag seizures in early 2026, followed by Rawalpindi. Lahore, however, levied the highest penalties. In contrast, Lahore was the leading district for seizures and penalties throughout 2025. Punjab EPA Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh stated the department is adopting stricter, zero-tolerance enforcement, targeting repeat violators and supply chains.
Secretary Silwat Saeed of the Punjab Environment Protection & Climate Change Department highlighted a multi-pronged strategy combining enforcement with behavioral change and market transformation. The upcoming ban on sub-75 micron plastic bags will be strictly implemented in urban commercial centers, with plastic-free zones serving as models. Collaboration with district authorities and continuous monitoring are deemed crucial for long-term compliance.
