Pakistan In Focus - ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN - Businessmen asked to launch plastic bag substitutes.

Industrialists must come forward to introduce substitutes for plastic bags, which are environment-friendly and degradable, said State Minster for Climate Change Zartaj Gul.

Addressing the business community at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), she said use of plastic bags would be banned in the near future and efforts were already afoot for systematic and planned tree plantations to overcome environmental pollution.

"Pakistan is ranked the seventh most vulnerable country facing the threat from global warming," she said. "I have talked to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and he is ready to ban the use of plastic bags throughout the province," she said and urged the industrialists to introduce new technology for replacing the plastic bags.

"In this connection, my ministry is ready to provide maximum guidance and incentives," she remarked.

The state minister pointed out that smog threat was around the corner and asked the government and industrialists to work closely to tackle the...