Punjab govt all set to impose ‘garbage tax’

There are recommendations to increase tax from Rs35 to Rs100-1,000

LAHORE: The government is preparing to impose the garbage tax on the residents of four districts of Punjab including Lahore.

The provincial government is considering suggestions to collect around Rs100 to 1,000 per month after taking approval from the cabinet division, Express News reported on Sunday.

Four districts in Punjab, including Lahore, are under a debt of Rs46.85 billion.

The Lahore Waste Management Company is under the debt of Rs39.6 billion, Rawalpindi Waste Management Company Rs5.91 billion, Gujranwala company Rs1.22 billion, Sialkot waste company Rs50 million and Bahawalpur company bears the debt of Rs15 million.

The waste management companies throughout the province spend more than Rs14 billion every month. Currently, the citizens of Lahore are paying Rs35 per house.



Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had announced to impose ‘sin tax’ on smokers. The sin tax will be imposed on smokers who are the frequent buyers of cigarettes.

The amount collected from the ‘sin tax’ will be spent on the health sector.

Moreover, the price of cigarettes is expected to rise in view of the government’s decision. The health ministry is considering various options regarding the sin tax. It is also planning to impose Rs5-15 tax on cigarettes. Sources said the sin tax can create an annual earning worth billions.

Pakistan will be the second country after the Philippines to impose a sin tax on cigarettes.