Special Committee Formed under DG SEPA to Enforce Plastic Bag Ban, Says Secretary Environment Agha Shah Nawaz

Special Committee Formed under DG SEPA to Enforce Plastic Bag Ban, Says Secretary Environment Agha Shah Nawaz

GOVERNMENT OF SINDH
INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
DIRECTORATE OF PRESS INFORMATION
95-Sindh Secretariat 4-B, Karachi.
Dated: 12 June 2025.

Special Committee Formed under DG SEPA to Enforce Plastic Bag Ban, Says Secretary Environment Agha Shah Nawaz

Secretary Instructs Letters to Home Secretary and All Commissioners for Coordinated Action

Restructuring of Climate Change Directorate, Consultant Appointment and Sustainable Development Board Proposed

Accelerate Fieldwork, Ensure Timely Completion and Tangible Environmental Outcomes,” Directs Agha Shah Nawaz Khan

KARACHI(June 12): A high-level meeting chaired by Agha Shah Nawaz Khan, Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development, Government of Sindh, reviewed departmental performance, prevailing challenges, and devised a forward-looking strategy. The meeting focused extensively on the implementation mechanism for the province-wide ban on plastic shopping bags, which is set to be enforced from June 15. To ensure effective enforcement, Secretary Agha Shah Nawaz constituted a special committee led by Director General SEPA, Waqar Hussain Phulpoto, comprising all regional directors, and announced a zero-tolerance policy beginning June 16, aimed at eliminating illegal plastic usage across Sindh. In a bid to facilitate coordinated district-level operations, he directed that formal letters be sent to the Home Secretary and all divisional commissioners, urging full administrative cooperation to achieve 100% enforcement of the ban.

The session also deliberated on the restructuring of the Directorate of Climate Change, the appointment of a dedicated consultant, and the activation of a provincial working group on climate change. A comprehensive review was undertaken regarding the execution of ongoing annual development schemes. The Secretary further instructed the formulation of a proposal to establish a "Sustainable Development Board" to ensure the strategic and effective utilization of sustainability funds. Orders were issued to expedite the identification of vacant posts, finalization of promotion and seniority lists within SEPA, and to streamline audit and financial processes, particularly those pertaining to PAC and DAC. Addressing the participants, Agha Shah Nawaz issued strict directives for all officers to engage actively in the field and deliver measurable environmental improvements, warning that negligence or laxity would not be tolerated. Emphasizing the environmental hazards posed by plastic bags, he asserted that strict implementation of the ban would begin on June 16, with visible outcomes expected immediately. Preparations for the crackdown are complete, and violators will face stringent legal action in collaboration with both district and provincial agencies.