QUETTA: The Balochistan government has approved manufacturing of biodegradable bags, an environment friendly alternate to plastic bags, and decided to take strict action against plastic bags for curbing rising plastic pollution in the province.

State news agency, APP has quoted an official of Environment Protection Agency, Muhammad Khan Utmankhail, as saying that polythene bags being a leading source of spreading plastic pollution had been banned in the province and strong action would be taken against manufacturers of polythene bags.

He said that only microns plastic bags were allowed in the open market for business purposes which was a biodegradable bag and that can be reused.

Muhammad Khan said the government had devised a three-phase strategy to free provincial capital from plastic bags under the initiative of Plastic Free Pakistan.

The department had started awareness campaign in the province and would distribute environment friendly alternate bags among the masses to overcome the menace of plastic bags.