The Punjab government will start collecting a new ‘garbage tax’ from July 1 as part of its Rs200 billion ‘Suthra Punjab’ (Clean Punjab) project. The aim is to improve cleanliness and sanitation in both cities and villages across the province.
Under this plan, local bodies and waste management companies including the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) will charge monthly fees for garbage collection services. The amount will depend on the size and type of property, ranging from Rs200 to Rs5,000 per month.
However, homes in informal or unplanned settlements will not have to pay this tax, as they are currently exempt.
This major cleanliness drive was launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to raise rural sanitation standards and make them equal to those in urban areas. As part of the project, door-to-door garbage collection has already begun in many places, and more areas will be added soon.
The government wants to ensure that garbage is collected regularly, waste is properly managed, and the environment is kept clean and healthy for all citizens — whether they live in a city or a village.
All government departments involved have been instructed to complete their final preparations before the tax goes into effect in July. The initiative is expected to create cleaner streets, reduce disease, and improve the overall quality of life in Punjab.
This is one of the largest sanitation efforts in the province’s history and shows the government’s commitment to building a cleaner, greener Punjab.
