Citizens protest new 'garbage tax'

The government has started sending bills to citizens under a newly introduced sanitation tax on houses, shops, and commercial plazas for the fiscal year 2025-26.

However, residents have launched protests, saying garbage continues to pile up in streets and markets despite the imposition of the new levy.

The sanitation tax has been set between Rs200 and Rs5,000, depending on property size and business type. According to official estimates, the Punjab government aims to collect Rs15 billion between September 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

For the following fiscal year (2026-27), the target is set at Rs65-68 billion.

A spokesperson for the Local Government Department said the sanitation fee would range from Rs200 to Rs5,000, with lower charges in residential areas and higher ones in commercial zones.

Billing will be digitised, and residential charges are based on plot size, with Rs300 for plots under five marlas, Rs500 for 5-10 marlas, Rs1,000 for 10 marlas, Rs2,000 for 20-40 marlas, and Rs5,000 for plots larger than 40 marlas.

Small businesses will be charged Rs500, medium-sized Rs1,000, and large businesses Rs3,000.

The government's first-year target is Rs15 billion.

Officials argued that permanent funding is necessary to sustain the waste management system. Punjab, with a population of 127.68 million, generates 57,500 million tons of waste daily, of which only 18,438 million tons are collected, leaving the rest to cause environmental pollution.

Funds from the tax will be used for garbage disposal, recycling, new machinery, staff salaries, and landfill sites. The government says more than 100,000 people have been provided employment under the program, and modern equipment worth billions has been purchased.

MNA and District Coordination Development Committee Convener Engineer Qamar Islam said the tax was affordable for citizens and would bring the sanitation system in line with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's vision to match international standards.

He added that all waste produced in Rawalpindi would be lifted daily to create a healthier environment. Commissioner Amir Khattak and Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema are regularly briefing the chief minister on cleanliness issues, he said.

Despite government assurances, citizens have rejected the tax, demanding visible improvements in sanitation before being charged. They argue that poor waste collection, overflowing containers, and unattended garbage dumps continue to cause health hazards in several neighbourhoods.