Sudden enforcement in the capital
Retailers and consumer goods companies in Islamabad are facing significant disruption following a sudden move by the local administration to ban the sale of products in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The instructions, reportedly issued verbally by the office of the Chief Commissioner and the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), have been implemented without prior formal notification or a grace period.
Since the orders were issued, local administrative teams have begun enforcement actions across the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Reports indicate that several retail outlets have already been sealed for stocking PET-packaged goods, which include a wide variety of beverages and food items. The CDA is the primary civic agency responsible for the capital's municipal services and regulation.
Industry backlash and economic concerns
The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has formally reached out to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to express deep concern over the development. The chamber argued that a blanket ban on PET packaging is scientifically unsupported and could undermine the country's recycling infrastructure. They noted that PET is a food-grade material that is fully recyclable and already supports a large value chain of waste collectors and processors.
Business leaders warned that such coercive measures, taken without legislative alignment, pose risks to commercial operations and government revenue. The CoRe Alliance, another industry body, has sought the intervention of the Board of Investment (BOI). They emphasized that the move contradicts the ICT Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023, which focus on managing waste rather than banning recyclable materials.
Environmental and regulatory impact
Experts in the packaging sector highlighted that PET bottles carry significant commercial value even after use. Unlike other single-use plastics, these bottles are collected and repurposed into synthetic fibers and new packaging. A sudden ban could dismantle this ecosystem, potentially increasing environmental costs if businesses switch to heavier materials like glass, which can lead to higher transportation emissions.
The OICCI has urged the government to focus on strengthening waste collection and segregation systems instead of a total prohibition. They suggested that the government should implement producer-funded recycling systems and measurable recovery targets, which align more closely with international standards like those seen in the European Union.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Islamabad mein plastic ki botalon (PET) par achanak pabandi laga di gayi hai aur kuch dukanon ko seal bhi kiya gaya hai. Karobari tanzeemon ka kehna hai ke ye botalain recycle ho sakti hain aur in par pabandi se karobar aur mulki mayshat ko nuqsan hoga. Unhon ne hukumat se darkhwast ki hai ke pabandi ke bajaye kachra jama karne ka nizam behtar banaya jaye.
