Karachi’s Plastic Bag Ban

I am Sure its a Good Thing which Govt have Implemented, but the thing is that it depends on how long does this Law Exists.
Plastic bags sholud totally be banned and the Poeple in this business should be aware that it is harmfull for their next generation as well.

#9 faylasuf {``Mr. Salim, could you please elaborate a bit on “hideous and lethargic shalwar/qameez outfits” ?``}

Fayla,
Gladly. The shalwar/qameez outfits, especially when worn by men, present an aura of lethargic , lazy, and unkempt people. Now, I am not by any means advocating an outer garment consisting of a tent-like structure either. Whenever we see news clips about Pakistan, the throngs of shalwar/qameez-clad men, engaging in vigorous activities such as flag burning, rock hurling, and camera grabbing, are quite embarrassing. The burqa-clad women, peering through narrow slits in their hideous uniforms, present a very sad and depressing image. Even shalwar/qameez on the aunties looks like a total commitment to being not serious about any kind of work. Even Romans in their togas looked more energetic - at least by the time they got down to orgies. :)

okay, this might be a stupid question, but for the life of me, I can`t understand this: If the issue is polythene bags clogging the sewerage system, how does setting a minimum, as opposed to a maximum, weight/thickness limit on them help?

What am I missing here?

I am with Azure and agree that

``The uneducated need to be told what `above 30 microns weight` actually means.``

I d like to add here that those responsible to ensure that this 30 micron ban is being actually followed should also be educated.

But with out any micron meter who or what is the authority? is there ne one who can tell what is the micron level of ne bag simply by touching or holding the bag??

Has ne one tried to actually explain why 30 microns? Or for that matter what actually is meant by 30 micron?

Imagine just for a sec.. the plight of a thela wala selling goods and being pushed by the local enforcers of law!


Re: # 8This ban on plastic bags, along with a total ban on the hideous and lethargic shalwar/qameez outfits, will definitely contribute to the beautification of Karachi.

Mr. Salim, could you please elaborate a bit on “hideous and lethargic shalwar/qameez outfits” ?

Zainub,
A good article and well-written concerning a very important nuisance that has engulfed Karachi. This ban on plastic bags, along with a total ban on the hideous and lethargic shalwar/qameez outfits, will definitely contribute to the beautification of Karachi. Of course, proper notice and education need to be part of any well-intentioned plan. Thanks.

#3: ``What`s the use if a few educated people living in posh localities go to shopping stores with their trendy cloth bags when the rest of the nation uses the same old plastic bags reused again and again?``

er.. wouldn`t resuing the bags mean, mathematically, fewer bags being used and therefore, less pollution?

#4: Who is Adnan Siddique?

#5: Should we also ban all combustion-engine vehicles? They cause pollution-- or haven`t you heard?

Captain planets these are heroes,they gonna take a pollution down to zero .

you guyswant to join captain planet`s team ........... ????

First of all we have to decide whether polythene bags are harmful or not ,if they are harmful then we should not use such things no matter if it is plastic bags or motor-rikshaws.When local govt is making such laws which is for the betterment of the city then we should practice those laws rather than discussing the negative aspects of it .
Everything has a good and a bad aspect at the same time,here is an example of technology ,some people say its good because it saves our time n increases the production of goods, some says its bad because it increases the unemployment ratio.
Come back to the topic polythene bags are the biggest cause of pollution as Zainab baji mentioned ,so we should practice good things and obey the laws strictly.

I agree with Adnan Siddqui the ban should not have been enforced so quickly, I know how badly Karachi needs this ban but the government should have followed a longer program in which they helped in the rehabilitation of the plastic bag producing industry.
Its easy for us to sit back in comfortable chairs and air conditioners to point out the flaws we see in Karachi`s aesthetics but we must also spare a thought for homeless boy in the street who earns a living through collecting garbage.
Don`t get me wrong here I`m all for improving Karachi.

The uneducated need to be told what `above 30 microns weight` actually means. What`s the use if a few educated people living in posh localities go to shopping stores with their trendy cloth bags when the rest of the nation uses the same old plastic bags reused again and again? This is the main reason why our country is such a mess. We don`t educate the ones who really need the education!

When we were studying research methods, this was something called data mining or sample error. All the interviewees are visitors/bloggers at Karachi Metroblog including the author. There should have been some views from outsiders say Dr. Nasim Ashraf. I am sure he could have come up with something useful to say. Or we could at least have picture of Shortcut Aziz burning plastic bags. Sorry this has nothing to do with the topic

Cheers

Yes, it`s a harsh thing, yes it`s gonna be a good thing in the long run, and yes it it something that we can easily get used to.

BUT NO, there was no need to enforce the ban withour prior notice, so that suppliers could seek alternative means of livlihood (remember, it is not BigBusiness which is gonna suffer -- the polythene bag industry is mostly cottage-type-- and that`s a clue as to how the ban could be passed so easily, I suspect!)

It`s all very well for writers to say that ``While it is a valid concern that people in the industry need to be provided alternative jobs, simply passing on the buck back to the government, on every issue, is not going to do Karachi at large any good.`` But I suspect such writers do not have any immediate concerns about where their next week`s meals are coming from.

Besides, with possibly larger environmental problems besetting Karachi about which nothing is being done -- the horrible emissions problem, caused by easily bribing officials out of being pulled up-- one wonders why the extreme (in its suddenness) measure taken on plastic bags. Then again, I suspect it has to do with the army engineers having to deal with the recent sewerage problems on the spiffy underpasses and roads they`re building.