MUZAFFARABAD: Authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have decided to take gradual steps to implement the ban on polythene bags in the region’s capital, Muzaffarabad, in consultation with stakeholders, according to a meeting held here on Tuesday. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muzaffarabad Mudassar Farooq, included officials from the district administration and the AJK Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the meeting, an EPA official said the ‘Polythene Bags Regulation Ordinance 2023’ —which bans the production, sale, purchase and use of non-degradable plastic bags — was already in effect across Azad Kashmir. The EPA official further noted that the grace period granted by the agency had ended, and continued use of polythene bags now constituted a serious violation of the law. “The ordinance imposes fines and penalties on manufacturers, importers, traders, stockholders and individual consumers of plastic bags,” he explained, adding that assistant commissioners were authorised to confiscate stocks, impose fines and seal shops found violating the law. However, the meeting acknowledged that despite the largescale ban on plastic bag production in Pakistan, the product was still being manufactured and sold by cottage industries. “This calls for tighter controls at entry points to cut off the supply of plastic bags into Muzaffarabad and beyond,” the deputy commissioner stressed. The meeting agreed to hold consultations with wholesalers and retailers to determine the time they would need to clear their existing stock of polythene bags. Additionally, the meeting explored which types of businesses and shops depended heavily on these bags and how best to replace them with eco-friendly alternatives. The EPA was tasked with identifying such businesses and assisting the administration in developing sustainable solutions. “The lack of a formal mechanism for disposing of plastic waste in Muzaffarabad has turned plastic bags into a major contributor to pollution,” DC Farooq said, warning that the plastic waste posed serious threats to both terrestrial and aquatic life.