Rawalpindi to outsource waste management
Garbage trucks are parked inside the Women’s Park which has been turned in to a solid waste management hub. PHOTO: AGHA MEHROZ/EXPRESS
The complete waste management system has been approved for sale to the private sector. With this sale, a cleaning tax will be imposed on every household, shop and plaza. Triple-story homes in neighbourhoods will be declared as three separate property units, with each unit subject to a monthly cleaning tax ranging from Rs350 to 500.
Strict orders have been issued for the immediate completion of the privatisation process of the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company.
In addition to Rawalpindi, all major cities in Punjab will also sell their waste management companies.
An important meeting was recently held regarding the immediate sale of the RWMC, attended by Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, and the company's CEO, Sajid Safdar.
During the meeting, a final decision was made regarding the sale of the RWMC, and procedures for the swift initiation of the privatisation project were established.
The meeting also focused on enhancing the performance of waste management companies and aligning cleaning standards with international requirements through an outsourcing plan.
Reviewing the current system, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq stated that the outsourcing process would not only ensure optimal resource utilisation but also significantly improve the city's cleanliness. He emphasised that the outsourcing phases should be completed promptly with transparency and quality assurance.
The deputy commissioner noted that adopting modern requirements through outsourcing would facilitate maintaining standards.
It was decided to accelerate the outsourcing process to modernise and effectively implement the cleanliness system in Rawalpindi and other cities.