The Gilgit-Baltistan government has decided to award interest-free loans to traders to eradicate the use of plastic shopping bags in the region, WealthPK reports. The decision about the provision of interest-free loans to support ‘green businesses’ in Gilgit-Baltistan was made in a meeting chaired by GB Chief Secretary Muhiudeen Wani.

The decision is expected to turn GB into a plastic-free region. The meeting decided that interest-free loans of Rs0.5 million, Rs1 million and Rs9.5 million would be provided to promote environment-friendly ventures and find alternatives to plastic bags, which will be phased out with the start of the year 2023. The meeting was attended by the additional chief secretary, secretary of finance, secretary of forest and representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency and Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Support Programme (GBRSP).

The GBRSP has been tasked to issue loans. Its representative was directed to float the advertisement regarding the provision of interest-free loans. The meeting also decided that the Annual Development Programme in relation to the agenda of plastic-free GB would be implemented at the earliest. The chief secretary said that he would personally monitor and supervise the implementation of plastic-free GB and the interest-free loan scheme, according to a press release received by WealthPK.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk