Towards a Cleaner Punjab: Rethinking Plastic Regulation

Punjab’s efforts to ban single-use plastic bags are falling short, not because of a lack of laws, but due to ineffective enforcement and a failure to target production. Despite the ban, plastic bags are still widely available, especially in urban centers like Lahore, which generates around 65,000 tonnes of waste daily, about 20% of which is from plastic bags.

Instead of going after manufacturers, authorities have placed the burden on shopkeepers and retailers, penalising over 65,000 outlets while production continues unchecked. This approach has allowed banned plastic bags to remain in circulation, making the ban ineffective in practice.

The plastic industry’s economic influence is another major hurdle. With investments worth Rs 150 billion, annual revenues of Rs 130 billion, and around 300,000 families relying on the sector for their income, the industry has successfully resisted more aggressive environmental reforms.

Without halting production, bans on distribution are unlikely to be effective. Punjab needs to shift its focus to upstream measures, including banning the manufacturing of non-biodegradable plastics, promoting alternatives such as cloth and paper bags, and offering incentives for businesses to switch to eco-friendly materials.

The province also needs to align its regulations with emerging global standards, such as the upcoming ISO requirements on sustainable packaging. Only a proactive, production-focused strategy can address the growing environmental crisis caused by plastic pollution in Pakistan.