No one will be allowed to use plastic bags in Islamabad after August 14: Zartaj

The government has decided to ban use of plastic bags in the federal capital and those violating the ban after August 14 will face a penalty of Rs 0.5 million.
This was stated by State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul while briefing the Sub-Committee of the Senate on Climate Change, which met here under the chairmanship of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
Zartaj Gul informed the panel that anyone who is seen using plastic bags in the capital after August 14 will be fined and also urged for the use of cloth bags instead.
Pakistan is ranked 7th in the list of countries affected due to natural disasters. The state minister had already announced a blanket ban on use of plastic bags in Islamabad from August 14.
The panel also discussed issues related to encroachments on green belts of the capital, slums, nullahs and parking problems in various shopping malls.
The sub-committee, which was mainly focusing on the report on environmental issues pertaining to the federal capital, also discussed the huge space that billboards occupy on the buildings.
In the meeting, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials informed the sub-committee that the nullah at F-9 Park will be cleared in 15 days.
The Metropolitan Cooperation Islamabad (MCI) officials also informed the committee that the managements of the private housing societies of E-11 were directed to establish sewerage treatment plants of appropriate technology to give sigh of relief to the residents.
Director General Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Farzana Altaf informed the committee that there is no air pollution in I-19 and I-10 industrial areas as it is being monitored round the clock.