Solid Waste: Conversion to private company challenged

conversion of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) department of the city government into a private company, LWMC.

LAHORE:

A writ petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging the conversion of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) department of the city government into a private company, Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC).

Former federal minister for minorities J Salik has filed the petition saying appointment of administrators following an amendment in local government ordinance is also illegal.

Salik said privatisation of Solid Waste Management under the garb of a new company was in violation of labour laws and also of the Local Government Ordinance.

Salik added that assets of the government had been transferred to the Lahore Waste Managment Company and the private company had been given complete authority to make any policy and enter any agreements.

Salik further said that an amendment in Section 179-A of the Local Government Ordinance to appoint administrators was in violation of the original scheme of the ordinance. He prayed to the court to set aside the inception of LWMC and the appointment of administrators.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2011.