Abstract
Pakistan banned single-use plastic shopping bags in Islamabad in 2019 to reduce plastic waste, but compliance remains unclear. This study evaluates the ban’s effectiveness in curtailing plastic bag use. The analysis utilized a rational choice framework and regression modeling. Surveys of 406 retailers across 18 purposively selected markets in Islamabad’s urban and rural zones provided data. The survey was conducted in February 2023. Interview was conducted after informed consent. Our findings suggest that the ban was ineffective, with 74% of customers still receiving plastic bags. Retailer age (0.26 percentage point decrease per year), business registration (8.87 percentage point decrease), higher education (1.42 percentage point decrease per year), and rural location (17.94-24.75 percentage point increase vs urban) were significantly associated with distribution. As the perceived probability of detection and fines increased, plastic bag use declined markedly. For a ``very likely” chance of fines, distribution decreased by 43.84 percentage points. The ban requires robust enforcement, monitoring, awareness campaigns, and tailored regulations for informal businesses and rural areas. Engaging trade bodies and volunteers could aid enforcement given limited agency resources. The ban appears ineffective and needs careful redesign focused on enforcement, stakeholder engagement, and accommodating retailer concerns.
Presenters
Muhammad KhanAssociate Professor, Department of Economics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Pakistan
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Sustainable Development for a Dynamic Planet: Lessons, Priorities, and Solutions
KEYWORDS
Plastic Bag Ban, Enforcement, Retailer Compliance, Urban-Rural Differences, Policy Effectiveness
