The provincial government has resolved to prohibit the use and sale of all plastic bags within Karachi.
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab explained that plastic bags clog sewerage lines and stormwater drains, leading to flooding during rainstorms. Despite billions of rupees in annual expenditures to clear these drains, plastic bags continue to cause severe clogging, especially in the monsoon season.
Wahab announced, “To address these concerns, we will enact legislation at the provincial level to ban plastic bags in Karachi, following the model used in Islamabad.”
He added that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and other municipal bodies will implement necessary actions to shield Karachi from environmental pollution and related issues.
Plastic bags, being non-biodegradable, not only accumulate as waste but also contribute to air pollution when incinerated. These bags frequently block sewerage systems, creating drainage problems and leading to stagnant sewage water along sidewalks and roads, greatly inconveniencing residents. Each year, before the rainy season, the city’s rain drains and nullahs overflow with discarded plastic, escalating the risk of flooding even during moderate rainfall.
