Punjab replaces traditional brooms with EVs, mechanical sweepers

Punjab is undergoing a major revolution in urban and rural sanitation, as Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif unveils a comprehensive plan to modernise cleanliness across the province. For the first time, traditional brooms are being replaced with eco-friendly electric vehicles and mechanical sweepers under the Clean Punjab initiative.

Energy will now also be generated from waste through the “Waste-to-Value” project, for which the chief minister has requested a comprehensive plan by mid-January. Cleaning services will now be provided in every street and alley, including Sundays, marking an unprecedented effort to maintain hygiene across cities and villages.

Under the new system, anyone littering in commercial areas or on roads will face legal action, with violators being brought under the law within 15 days. The number of sanitation workers in every union council will be increased, and proposals are being reviewed to provide one tractor for every two union councils. Proper waste enclosures will also be constructed for garbage bins and containers, establishing new standards for organisation and cleanliness.

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CM Maryam emphasised the scale and impact of the project, calling it “nothing less than a miracle” and noting that a comprehensive cleaning system should have been established years ago. She added that the project started from zero and is improving over time, receiving positive feedback from citizens across the province.

For greater transparency, salaries and payments have been digitalised, while a Vehicle Tracking Management System and live container monitoring are being used to oversee sanitation vehicles. Waste management companies are being assessed based on KPIs, with performance determined through marks, ensuring accountability and efficiency.

With this initiative, Punjab is setting a new benchmark in public sanitation, combining modern technology, strict enforcement, and citizen-friendly policies to create a cleaner and greener province.