SEPA Director calls for shared responsibility to replace harmful plastic bags with green alternatives

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2026) SEPA Director Imran Sabir advocated strict limits on plastic shopping bags, urging communities to embrace reusable alternatives and cooperate with government efforts to tackle plastic pollution, warning that Pakistan’s annual use of more than 60 billion plastic bags could lead to a future where plastic waste exceeds fish in oceans by 2050, threatening ecosystems and public health.

While speaking to a local media outlet, Director of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) Imran Sabir said Sindh and Punjab are taking various measures to control plastic pollution, including action against wholesalers and sellers of plastic bags, along with awareness campaigns in educational institutions and through social media

platforms.

He highlighted that around five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year, with most being used for only a few minutes before disposal. Despite their short usage period, plastic bags can take hundreds of years to break down, causing long-term pollution of land, rivers and oceans while threatening wildlife and marine

ecosystems.

The SEPA Director urged public cooperation with government efforts to reduce plastic waste, calling for wider adoption of reusable and eco-friendly alternatives. He stressed that collective action by citizens, businesses and institutions is essential to protect the environment and public health from the growing plastic pollution

challenge.

Responding to a query about brands introducing cloth bags as alternatives to plastic bags while charging customers an additional Rs30 to Rs40 after shopping, Director Imran Sabir said promoting reusable bags is a positive step toward reducing plastic waste.

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However, he discouraged extra charges on customers and urged shopping malls and brands to adopt environmentally friendly practices without creating barriers for public participation.

He emphasized that businesses and consumers should work together to promote sustainable solutions and reduce plastic pollution.

Responding to another query regarding the ban on plastic bags, Sabir said that many industrial owners approached legal forums and raised concerns over shutting down a business that has existed for decades.

He said authorities are engaging with stakeholders and encouraging industries to move toward environmentally friendly alternatives.

He added that courts have also directed relevant stakeholders to explore alternative solutions and all parties are working together while seeking suggestions to ensure a practical transition away from plastic bags without compromising environmental protection.

Responding to another question, SEPA Director Imran Sabir said plastic bags are highly harmful to the environment as they do not easily degrade and remain in ecosystems for long periods. He warned that plastic waste can contaminate land and water, pose risks to human health and endanger marine animals by damaging their habitats and food chains.

SEPA Director urged media outlets to play their role in promoting awareness programs and educating the public about the harmful impacts of plastic pollution.

He called for public cooperation and encouraged the business community to adopt sustainable alternatives, including cloth-based bags and other environmentally friendly options to reduce dependence on plastic bags.