Sindh cabinet decides to ban polythene bags    

KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet has decided to impose ban on the use of polythene bags, said Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh for Information, Law and Anti-corruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab, here on Saturday.

The chief minister's adviser at a media briefing about the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, said the government has decided to implement Sindh Environmental Protection Act under which non-degradable polythene bags could not be purchased, used, manufactured or imported.

Murtaza Wahab said the ban on polythene bags would be imposed in phases with in time period of three months.

In the first phase Sukkur region has been selected, and in the next phase a complete ban on non-degradable polythene bags in Karachi and Hyderabad regions and rest of Sindh, will be implemented.

He informed that traders of polythene and plastic bags would also be engaged in this regard and added that the federal government would also be approached to increase import duty on polythene bags to discourage its import.

The cabinet also approved the formation of a committee to review the draft of Sindh Police postings/transfer rules.

The cabinet also approved Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma Bill. It also approved the board of Sindh Child Protection Authority. The cabinet also recommended the release of 12 severely ailing prisoners.

Murtaza Wahab added that the Sindh cabinet has imposed ban on the purchase of new vehicles for three years, adding that the Sindh government wanted to introduce a policy in which a 17-grade officer offered a vehicle on lease.

Officer should pay its installments and on the payment of instalments, the officer will be given ownership of the vehicle.     The officer would also be responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle.

Regarding Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Trauma Institute, he informed that the institute has been approved by the cabinet and added that it was now authorised to launch post-graduate programs like FSPS, MS, MD, PHD in Arthu Surgery, Traumalogy and in the field of emergency medicine.

He informed that it was also agreed to form a committee to review the Sindh Police (transfers and postings) draft comprised of Sindh Minister for Energy, Minister for Mines and Minerals, Provincial Law Adviser, Sindh Home Department Secretary and Inspector General of Sindh Police.

The adviser further informed that the cabinet also approved the constitution of the Board of Sindh Child Protection Authority and the directed Secretary Social Welfare Department to propose names for the board.