Lahore: Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab, Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, has reaffirmed that environment protection remains a top priority of the current government.

According to Radio Pakistan, in an exclusive interview with correspondent Qasim Bukhari on the occasion of International Plastic Bag Free Day, Dr. Sheikh stated that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has consistently championed the vision of a Plastic-Free Punjab, providing full support to green initiatives across the province.

He announced the launch of the “Plastic-Free Punjab Pledge Campaign” by the EPA, which invites businesses of all sizes to join the movement and commit to sustainable practices.

Highlighting the government’s ongoing campaign against harmful plastic usage, Dr. Sheikh said that since June 5, 2024, authorities have confiscated over 344,000 kilograms of plastic bags that do not meet regulatory standards.

He emphasized that plastic recycling is now essential, as the excessive use of plastic-particularly bags thinner than 75 microns or smaller than 12×16 inches-poses serious environmental and health risks.

Dr. Sheikh issued a clear warning against the use of single-use plastics, stressing that they are a major contributor to environmental degradation and long-term public health hazards.