Pakistan’s plastic bag ban: an analysis of citizens’ support and ban effectiveness in Islamabad Capital Territory

The excessive consumption of single-use plastic bags in recent years has fueled plastic pollution leading to considerable adverse consequences for human health and the environment. To control the high rates of plastic pollution and its marked effects in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, the government imposed a ban on single-use plastic bags in August 2019. Hence, to overcome plastic pollution and successfully implement bans in other parts of the country, it is critical to study this ban’s effectiveness and identify factors that contribute to its success. As research on this matter currently remains limited, present study attempts to understand the drivers for ban’s support and evaluate the role that awareness, education and the availability of alternatives play in increasing support for this ban. The survey results exhibited a positive relationship between the aforementioned variables and support for the plastic bag ban. Although plastic bag consumption fell for 77.5% of the sample after the ban, it failed to be entirely effective in eradicating plastic bag usage as bags were widely available in small shops. Respondents felt that increasing awareness would reduce resistance against the ban, and the government, non-government organizations, and the general public should all take part in conducting these awareness campaigns.