Court orders ban on use of polythene bags in Punjab

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered to stop the use of polythene bags by fruit sellers, milk sellers, and retailers.

Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court issued orders on a petition seeking a ban on the use of polythene bags. The court directed the environment department to implement the ban on the use of polythene bags and sought a report at the next hearing.

The petition contended that the use of polythene bags was increasing environmental pollution. The environment department is not following court orders.

It may be recalled that Lahore is ranked fifth among the most polluted cities in the world in the Air Quality Index. According to the list released by the International Organization for Air Pollution, Lahore is the fifth most polluted city in the world. the city remains one of the ten most polluted cities in the world, while Gujranwala also has an air quality index of 157.

According to the World Air Pollution Testing Organization, Lahore has an overall air quality index of 152, while Gujranwala ranks first among the polluted cities in Pakistan with an air quality index of 157.