The Pakistan Jute Mills Association (PJMA) has urged the federal government to ensure implementation of UN guidelines for the storage of food items.
Also, the association wants the government to make compulsory the use of jute bags for the packaging and long term storage of grains including wheat. This, the millers said, would help government to reduce health burden of public and ensure food security in the county.
PJMA Secretary Muhammad Younus, in a communication to the ministry of National Food and Security Research (MNFSR), said it was scientifically proven that plastic bags were neither environment-friendly nor biodegradable and were generating cancerous dioxins during the recycling procedure while it was surprising that high-ups in the ministry of food security still consider it as big source for storage of wheat which was all against the international norms and health standards.
He said the use of polypropylene plastic bags endangered lives of millions of people and the environment as well. He further stated that all across the globe, use of polypropylene had been made to minimal because of the hazardous impacts it had on the human life and hence use of jute bags had been suggested as the best alternative to store grains and other edibles.
Currently, Pakistan has a demand of 180 million bags per year and 60 million of this demand is met locally whereas the remaining demand is met by the jute bags being reused many times.
