Digital monitoring of waste disposal on cards

Payments to be made to private firms based on digital data

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LAHORE:

The Punjab government has approved a new system for the digital monitoring of solid waste operations under the "Clean Punjab Initiative." The system will oversee the collection and disposal of garbage in cities, ensuring better waste management.

Payments to private cleaning companies contracted for these operations will be based on the digitally monitored data.

The updated waste management system will function from the district level down to the union council level. All private contractors in Punjab's eight major cities have been given until February 28 to procure and operationalize 100% of the required cleaning machinery.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Local Government Minister Mian Zeeshan highlighted the challenges, stating, "Punjab generates approximately 60,000 tons of waste daily, but only 20,000 tons are currently collected.

While the collection rate in cities is relatively high, rural areas remain underserved, he said, adding that the new system aims to address the gap, ensuring simultaneous cleaning of urban and rural areas. The initiative is expected to create employment for 100,000 families involved in waste collection.

Minister Zeeshan said that this comprehensive project is designed to benefit both cities and villages across the province.

Experimental operations under the new system have already begun, showing gradual improvement.

The Rawalpindi division, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Murree districts, has implemented the updated waste management protocol.

During a meeting, the commissioner of Rawalpindi stated that sanitation workers will now operate at the union council level across cities, towns, and villages.