In a bold move to tackle environmental pollution, the Sindh government has introduced a comprehensive ban on all types of plastic shopping bags across the province, effective June 15, 2025.
The ban, announced through a formal notification by the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Coastal Development, prohibits all categories of plastic bags, including non-degradable, oxo-degradable, black-colored, and recycled variants. This policy updates the 2014 “Sindh Prohibition of Non-Degradable Plastic Products Rules,” marking a significant step forward in environmental conservation.
The provincial cabinet unanimously approved the decision during its April 15, 2025, meeting, following recommendations from the Environment Department. Unlike the 2019 partial ban, which permitted plastic bags of specific weights and sizes, this new regulation eliminates all exemptions, ensuring a complete prohibition.
Why Ban Plastic Bags?
Plastic bags contribute to environmental degradation, clogging waterways, harming wildlife, and polluting landscapes. Sindh’s Environment Secretary, Agha Shahnawaz Khan, emphasised the urgency of the ban, stating:
“Plastic bags are enemies of the environment. This historic step is in the public interest. We aim to ensure a clean, green, and safe future for coming generations. The time has come to get rid of plastic permanently.”
The ban reflects Sindh’s commitment to sustainable development and public health, addressing the growing plastic pollution crisis head-on.
According to Secretary Khan, violators of the ban will face stringent legal consequences, with no leniency. The Environment Department has called on district administrations, industrialists, traders, and citizens to support this initiative actively. Environmentalists, civil society, and residents have hailed the decision as “historic,” praising its potential to transform Sindh’s environmental landscape.
The Sindh plastic bag ban sets a powerful precedent for other regions. As the province prepares for the June 15, 2025, implementation, the focus is on collaboration and compliance to achieve a sustainable future. This initiative addresses plastic pollution and reinforces Sindh’s leadership in environmental stewardship.
