LAHORE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab, on the eve of World Environment Day 2026, has accelerated efforts to establish plastic-free zones in major city markets, announcing that plastic bags below 75 microns will be completely banned in the coming weeks as part of a province-wide crackdown on plastic pollution.
According to official data, EPA Punjab’s enforcement drive in 2026 has already shown a sharp escalation in action. From January 1 to April 27, the agency conducted 3,612 inspections, confiscating 937,868 kilograms of plastic bags, issuing 189 notices, imposing fines of Rs3 million, sealing 26 premises and registering seven FIRs. When compared with the full-year campaign of 2025, the intensity of enforcement appears more targeted yet significantly higher in volume of seizures.
