Sindh to ban plastic bags from June 15

The Sindh government has announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacturing, storage, sale, and use of all types of plastic carrier and shopping bags, effective from June 15.

The Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department (ECC&CDD) issued a formal notification on April 30, directing all relevant authorities to begin strict enforcement of the ban.

The sweeping restrictions apply to all non-degradable, oxo-degradable, black-coloured, and recycled plastic bags, regardless of their thickness or size.

The move is rooted in the Sindh Prohibition of Non-Degradable Plastic Products Rules 2014 and Section 14(3) of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014. The Sindh cabinet gave final approval to the amendment on April 15.

This decision comes amid growing concern over Pakistan’s mounting plastic pollution crisis.

On the International Day of Zero Waste, observed on March 30, Senator Sherry Rehman, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, raised alarms about the devastating impact of plastic waste on the environment and public health.

Read more: Six countries including Pakistan transporting plastic pollution in Asia: World Bank

She noted that Pakistan produces nearly 49.6 million tons of solid waste annually, with only 1% of plastic waste being recycled — far below the global average of 9%.

The rest ends up in landfills, rivers, and drains, contributing to urban flooding and contamination of food and water sources. The Indus River is now ranked as the world’s second most plastic-polluted river.

Senator Rehman emphasized that piecemeal efforts are no longer enough and called for long-term structural reforms. “This is not a problem for tomorrow. It’s a crisis today,” she warned, citing increased waste-related diseases and a crumbling sanitation infrastructure in cities.