The Punjab government's flagship cleanliness initiative, the Suthra Punjab project, has come under fire in Dera Ghazi Khan amid allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and collusion between officials and contractors.
Sanitation workers staged a protest this week, locking up the machinery store after going unpaid for the past three months.
They warned that they faced severe financial hardship and demanded immediate payment of their dues.
"We have not received our salaries for three months. How are we supposed to survive?" one protesting worker said.
Residents, meanwhile, are grappling with uncollected garbage piling up across neighbourhoods.
Frustrated by the lack of waste collection, many have begun burning trash, causing environmental pollution and raising health concerns, particularly with the smog season approaching.
Citizens reported worsening air quality around schools and hospitals, where the situation is especially alarming.
Sources alleged that the contractor responsible for waste collection was inflating garbage weights by mixing in soil, stones, and construction material to claim higher payments from the waste management company.
Reports also suggested the presence of dozens of ghost employees drawing salaries without performing any duties.
The company has also failed to fulfill key contractual obligations, including the provision of adequate machinery and the construction of boundary walls around dumping sites, despite receiving funds from the government.
In response to the growing crisis, Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry has taken notice and directed the Local Government Department to submit a detailed report.
Chief Executive Officer Rana Muhammad Shahid assured protesting workers that payments would be cleared soon.
Public and social circles have demanded strict accountability, including an audit of the contractor company and action against corrupt officials.
They stressed the urgent need to restore waste collection services to protect public health and reduce environmental hazards.
The Suthra Punjab Project, launched with the aim of improving sanitation across the province, is now facing serious questions about its transparency and effectiveness in Dera Ghazi Khan, where residents continue to suffer the consequences of its shortcomings.
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