The government and the Department of Environment and Climate Change have initiated a major crackdown on using thin shopping bags following the December 10 deadline. Starting Wednesday, shopkeepers throughout Rawalpindi Division, including grocery store owners, will be subject to penalties for utilizing these plastic bags. These sanctions involve sealing stores for three days and imposing fines between Rs50,000 and Rs100,000.
This enforcement campaign is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Environment, District Administration, Food Authority, and police support. Meanwhile, 75-micron thick shopping bags are permitted, albeit subject to a substantial licensing fee, while thinner variants are completely banned.
According to the Food Authority, factories producing the thicker bags will face an annual tax of Rs300,000 per machine. Wholesale dealers are liable for a Rs200,000 yearly tax, and retailers, including those in the grocery, milk, meat, fruit, and vegetable sectors, must pay Rs100,000 annually to secure a license. This license’s renewal fee is set at Rs50,000.
Saleem Pervez Butt, President of the Grocery Merchant Association, has criticized the tax as excessive. He argued, “Grocery shops typically spend just Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 monthly on shopping bags. An annual tax of Rs100,000 is excessive for most shops, which often have inventories valued only between Rs100,000 and Rs150,000.” He has called on the government to reassess this levy.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema emphasized the strict prohibition of thin shopping bags, stating, “The crackdown begins today.”
