Lahore High Court (LHC) has imposed a ban on plastic bags at pharmacies, medical stores and fruit vendors and directed Environment Protection Department to implement the court orders.

LHC judge Justice Shahid Karim, in his verdict on plea of advocate Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi, has ordered DG of Department of Environmental Protection to issue directions to regional officers to enforce the ban in districts of Gujranwala, Sialkot and Faisalabad.

The court has granted two weeks’ time to all stores to switch to alternatives of the plastic bags and adjourned the hearing till September 9.