ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly of Pakistan has passed the “Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Plastic Covers on Books) Act 2026,” introducing a ban on the use of plastic covers on books in the federal capital as part of efforts to reduce environmental pollution.
Under the newly approved law, booksellers, publishers and distributors in Islamabad will not be allowed to sell or supply books wrapped in plastic covers. The legislation aims to discourage the widespread use of non-biodegradable plastic materials commonly used for covering schoolbooks.
According to the law, violators may face a fine of up to Rs50,000 for the first offence, while repeated violations can result in penalties of up to Rs100,000.
The Islamabad administration has been given authority to conduct inspections, confiscate prohibited materials and impose fines on the spot to ensure implementation of the law.
However, the legislation also includes certain exemptions. Biodegradable materials, hardback covers and protective covers used for rare or valuable books will still be permitted.
The bill was previously approved by the Senate before being presented in the National Assembly by Syed Naveed Qamar.
Officials say the move is intended to reduce plastic waste and encourage environmentally friendly practices in schools, bookstores and educational institutions across Islamabad.
Plastic book covers have long been commonly used by students in Pakistan, particularly for school textbooks, but environmental experts have repeatedly warned about their harmful impact due to the large amount of non-biodegradable waste they generate.
With the passage of the new law, educational institutions and parents may now shift towards eco-friendly alternatives such as paper, cloth or biodegradable covers for books.
