Islamabad to become plastic-free by December 31: Talal Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD  –  Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Saturday said that Islamabad will be made plastic-free by December 31, 2026, as the government steps up efforts to eliminate plastic bags and other plastic products to curb environmental pollution.

Addressing a press conference, he said the Interior Minister had given an assurance to the prime minister that the federal capital would be made plastic-free by the deadline. He urged traders, shopkeepers, industrialists, vendors and owners of roadside eateries to cooperate with the government in implementing the law. Talal Chaudhry said the relevant law was enacted in 2023 and its implementation was now being ensured in letter and spirit. He added that detailed meetings had been held with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and representatives of the business community to facilitate the transition to alternatives.

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Plastic damages the environment whether it enters the soil, water or sewage system, or is burned and pollutes the air, he said, stressing the need to protect the environment for future generations. He said plastic bags and other prohibited plastic products would no longer be allowed for business use in Islamabad after December 31, with exemptions only for medical equipment, medicines and plastic items used in hospitals.

The minister said the government wanted traders to comply voluntarily rather than resorting to strict enforcement. However, some businesses, including milk, yoghurt and meat shops, had been given a few additional days to arrange alternatives. He added that government ministries in Islamabad had already stopped using plastic bags and similar products over the past several months, and the campaign would now be extended to every market, sector and commercial centre.

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The minister said substandard petroleum products and smuggled plastic shopping bags were among the sources contributing to environmental pollution. He said the government had written to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), requesting that seized products harmful to the environment be destroyed instead of being auctioned.

He added that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was cooperating with the initiative. Talal Chaudhry said vehicle emission testing was mandatory in Islamabad and that around 60 per cent of vehicles had undergone the test so far. The government would ensure that all vehicles complied with the requirement, he added.

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He said the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had also been asked to ensure the sale of standard-quality fuel at all 147 petrol pumps in Islamabad. Petrol stations found selling substandard fuel would face action, including closure and cancellation of their leases, he warned. “If people find it difficult to breathe, this cannot be tolerated,” he said. The minister said the government had also requested other provinces to adopt uniform environmental laws and ensure their consistent implementation across the country.

He said environmental pollution and smog did not remain confined to provincial boundaries, adding that differences in regulations allowed products manufactured in one province to be used elsewhere, contributing to pollution. He said Punjab had taken significant measures to address environmental issues, whose effects would become visible gradually.

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Talal Chaudhry said Islamabad’s own contribution to smog was negligible due to its extensive green areas, but pollution from highways, motorways and incoming and outgoing traffic, along with smog originating in neighbouring areas, also affected the capital. He stressed that coordinated efforts by the federal and provincial governments were necessary to control pollution and protect public health.

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