PESHAWAR: Authorities in Peshawar, the capital of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, have banned the use of throw-away, single-use plastic bags by malls and pharmacies and will replace them with bio-degradable plastic and paper bags in an attempt to tackle plastic pollution.
In a recent executive order, the Deputy Commissioner’s office announced a ban on the use of the plastic bags and starting January 15, malls have seven days and pharmacies fifteen to completely stop using polythene bags, and replace them with more environmental friendly options.
More than 60 countries now have bans or taxes on single-use plastics, according to the United Nations, which has called for such measures to stem the tide of pollution.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan told Arab News the executive order had come after extensive discussions with malls, medical stores, and plastic producing factories.
“Many shopping malls in Peshawar have already shifted to bio-degradable plastic bags,” Khan said. “However, those that are still delaying the shift will soon have to give up using ordinary plastic as the district administration has clearly mentioned that any stocks of the hazardous plastic shopping bags will be seized after the deadline.”
Khan said plastic producing factories had also been told to shift to producing bio-degradable plastic: “The factories are in a process of making the shift, but they will need more time as it requires updating their factories. Within six months to one year, we will have most of the factories producing bio-degradable plastic.”
Owners of medical stores and malls in Peshawar said the government’s deadline was too short to make a switch and most had stocks of up to three months.
Muhammad Zohaib, a store manager in the University Town area, said it would be hard for many people to completely stop using plastic bags in two weeks: “We have a stock of plastic bags for two months which cost us 300,000 rupees. The factory will not take back our stock as we have our logos printed on them all.”
Medical store owner Abdul Wahab said the government should compensate shop owners by providing them with bio-degradable plastic bags or allow them to utilize existing stocks. He also urged the government to ensure the quality of the bio-degradable plastic bags available in the market.
However, ADC Khan said the government would not compensate for the discarded plastic bags as the owners of malls and medical stores had been repeatedly informed that they would soon be phased out.
Pakistan is facing a serious climate change challenge and the government of Pakistan is trying to take measures to counter the damage through bodies like the Environment Protection Agency.
“Plastic is hazardous in any form. It has a life cycle of more than a hundred years,” said Afsar Khan, Deputy Director of Climate Change at the environment ministry. “Bio-degradable plastic bags completely decay in 6 months or a little more. Pakistan has to strengthen its legislation about the recycling of plastic. We have to follow the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle rules to safeguard our future.”
Pakistan’s Peshawar city to phase out plastic bags within two weeks
Pakistan’s Peshawar city to phase out plastic bags within two weeks
- Malls have seven, pharmacies fifteen days to phase out polythene bags
- Businesses say government deadline is too short
Pakistan, China to sign multiple MoUs at major agriculture investment conference today
- Hundreds of Chinese and Pakistani firms to attend Islamabad event
- Conference seen as part of expanding CPEC ties into agriculture, trade
KARACHI: Islamabad and Beijing are set to sign multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to boost agricultural investment and cooperation at a major conference taking place in the capital today, Monday, with hundreds of Chinese and Pakistani companies expected to participate.
The conference is being billed by Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research as a platform for deepening bilateral agricultural ties and supporting broader economic engagement between the two countries.
“Multiple memorandums of understanding will be signed at the Pakistan–China Agricultural Conference,” the Ministry of National Food Security said in a statement. “115 Chinese and 165 Pakistani companies will participate.”
The conference reflects a growing emphasis on expanding Pakistan-China economic cooperation beyond the transport and energy foundations of the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into agriculture, industry and technology.
Under its first phase launched in 2015, CPEC, a core component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, focused primarily on transportation infrastructure, energy generation and connectivity projects linking western China to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan. That phase included motorways, power plants and the development of the Gwadar Port in the country's southwest, aimed at helping Pakistan address chronic power shortages and enhance transport connectivity.
In recent years, both governments have formally moved toward a “CPEC 2.0” phase aimed at diversifying the corridor’s impact into areas such as special economic zones, innovation, digital cooperation and agriculture. Second-phase discussions have highlighted Pakistan’s goal of modernizing its agricultural sector, attracting Chinese technology and investment, and boosting export potential, with high-level talks taking place between planning officials and investors in Beijing.
Agri-sector cooperation has also seen practical collaboration, with joint initiatives examining technology transfer, export protocols and value-chain development, including partnerships in livestock, mechanization and horticulture.
Organizers say the Islamabad conference will bring together government policymakers, private sector investors, industry associations and multinational agribusiness firms from both nations. Discussions will center on investment opportunities, technology adoption, export expansion and building linkages with global buyers within the framework of Pakistan-China economic cooperation.
