Punjab begins garbage tax recovery

The Punjab government's Local Government and Community Development Department has formally notified the collection of sanitation fees from residential and commercial areas under the Suthra Punjab Programme.

According to the notification, responsibility for collecting the sanitation fee has been formally assigned to the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department, Punjab, with the new system taking effect from July 1, 2026.

The Excise Department will issue consolidated waste bills covering July, August and September to all consumers during October. The bills are to be recovered by 31 October, while an online payment facility will also be made available by October 15.

According to the notification, monthly sanitation fees for domestic consumers in urban areas have been fixed according to property size. Households up to five marlas will pay Rs300 per month, those measuring five to 10 marlas Rs500, 10 to 20 marlas Rs1,000, 20 to 40 marlas Rs2,000, and properties exceeding 40 marlas Rs5,000 per month.

For commercial premises in urban areas, the monthly fee has been fixed according to the size of the business. Small businesses will pay Rs500, medium-sized businesses Rs1,000 and large businesses Rs3,000 per month.