Punjab EPA steps up anti-plastic drive

LAHORE: The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has intensified its campaign against plastic pollution ahead of World Environment Day 2026 on June 5, with authorities saying plastic bags below 75 microns will be fully banned in the coming weeks as part of a province-wide enforcement push.

Official figures show a sharp rise in action during the first months of 2026. From Jan 1 to April 27, the EPA carried out 3,612 inspections, seized 937,868kg of plastic bags, issued 189 notices, imposed Rs3 million in fines, sealed 26 premises and registered seven FIRs.

When set against the agency’s full-year performance in 2025, the latest campaign shows a different enforcement pattern. Last year, the EPA conducted 113,153 inspections across 39 districts, confiscated 419,033kg of plastic bags as well as 3,410kg of other plastic waste, issued 7,942 notices and levied penalties of more than Rs8.14 million. It also registered 181 FIRs, sealed 374 premises and filed 145 complaints before environmental magistrates.

The comparison indicates that in less than four months of 2026, the quantity of plastic bags seized has already exceeded by more than double the total recovered during all of 2025. At the same time, the lower number of inspections suggests the agency has moved towards more focused action targeting major offenders.

District-wise enforcement

District-level data for 2026 shows Multan at the top in terms of seizures, with 17,989kg of plastic bags confiscated, followed by Rawalpindi with 10,848kg. Lahore recorded 1,809kg of confiscated plastic and posted the highest penalties among major districts at Rs816,000. Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Sheikhupura also contributed to the campaign through inspections, fines and seizures.

In 2025, Lahore had led the province with 83,661kg of plastic confiscated and penalties of more than Rs2.4 million. Multan followed with 60,153kg, while Rawalpindi recorded 37,563kg. Sheikhupura and Bahawalnagar also reported notable enforcement activity during that year.

Officials outline strategy

EPA Punjab Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh said the department had adopted stricter enforcement with a zero-tolerance approach, particularly against repeat offenders and the supply chains involved in illegal plastic bags. He said field teams had been instructed to ensure immediate sealing of premises and registration of FIRs in serious cases, adding that the campaign had moved beyond warnings and was now intended to create deterrence.

“Our priority is visible compliance in markets. The EPF crackdowns are being conducted daily, and no leniency will be shown to manufacturers or sellers of banned plastic,” he said.

Punjab Environment Protection & Climate Change Department Secretary Silwat Saeed said the government was following a multi-pronged approach that combined enforcement with behavioural change and market transformation. She said the planned ban on sub-75 micron plastic bags would be enforced strictly in urban commercial centres, while designated plastic-free zones would serve as model areas.

“The objective is not only enforcement but a structural shift towards sustainable alternatives. We are engaging manufacturers, traders and local administrations to ensure availability of compliant substitutes while raising public awareness about the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution.”

She added that coordination with district authorities and continuous monitoring would be essential for long-term compliance.

Officials said that despite stronger enforcement, continued plastic use in peri-urban and rural areas remained a challenge. They expressed the expectation that stricter regulations, targeted crackdowns and the upcoming ban would help reduce plastic waste generation in the coming months.

The agency says the current campaign represents a decisive phase in Punjab’s environmental governance, with authorities seeking to turn enforcement gains into lasting behavioural change and a cleaner urban environment.