Pakistan EPA clarifies PET bottles not banned after Islamabad sealing drive

PAKISTAN – The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency clarified on 15 October 2026 that PET bottles are not banned under existing regulations, one day after Islamabad’s local administration began sealing retail outlets over an alleged prohibition that has no basis in the 2023 rules.

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency said it was the only environmental regulator for Islamabad and that no legal basis existed for removing PET bottles from sale. 

The clarification, conveyed to the Islamabad Capital Territory administration, came directly in response to enforcement actions that began on 12 October, when the Capital Development Authority issued verbal instructions to discontinue PET-packaged product sales without prior notification or published regulation.

Timeline Traces Escalation From Campaign to Sealing

The sequence started on 3 October 2026, when the Capital Development Authority and Islamabad administration launched the Plastic-Free Islamabad initiative under directions from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf. 

On 11 October, the district administration announced an expanded crackdown on single-use plastic bottles to begin the following day, adding to ongoing action against polythene bags.

By 13 October, retailers reported that verbal instructions had been issued through the Office of the Chief Commissioner and Chairman of the CDA, with enforcement teams sealing outlets from the previous night. 

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency’s clarification followed two days later.

2023 Regulations Exclude PET From Prohibited Categories

The Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations 2023, notified on 4 June 2023 under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, prohibit six categories of disposable plastic items. PET bottles used for water and soft drinks are not included. 

The banned items comprise single-use polythene bags, plastic drinking straws, crockery such as plates, bowls, cups and glasses, cutlery including forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks, disposable plastic foodservice ware including lidded containers and boxes, and beverage stirrers. 

Schedule II separately requires single-use plastic beverage containers to contain at least 50 percent recycled plastic from 1 July 2028, a provision imposing no current ban.

Industry Groups Had Sought Withdrawal Through Formal Channels

The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry wrote to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arguing that a blanket prohibition could undermine existing recycling operations, increase environmental costs and negatively affect businesses. 

The Collect and Recycle Alliance sought intervention from the Board of Investment, calling for effective enforcement of the 2023 regulations and a predictable, investment-friendly regulatory environment. 

Both organisations urged strengthened waste collection, segregation and recycling systems through producer-funded mechanisms and measurable recovery targets rather than a blanket ban on recyclable PET packaging. 

The clarification restores legal certainty for retailers while preserving the 2028 recycled-content requirement as a demand signal for Pakistan’s PET recovery sector.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE