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LAHORE, Dec 31 (APP): The year 2025 has been declared a landmark year for the success of the Punjab government’s flagship Suthra Punjab Program, which has emerged as a global model for modern sanitation and waste management under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The Suthra Punjab program gained international recognition after its global launch at the COP30 Environmental Conference, where it attracted significant attention from environmental experts.
The program’s innovative cleanliness and waste management model was also featured in leading global publications, including BBC, Forbes and Bloomberg highlighting Pakistan’s efforts toward sustainable urban management. In a first-of-its-kind development volunteers from Birmingham sought professional guidance on sanitation and cleanliness from Director General Suthra Punjab Authority Babar Sahib Din, reflecting growing international interest in Punjab’s waste management framework.
The Suthra Punjab program has created dignified employment opportunities for over 150,000 people across the province while more than 30,000 modern machinery have been deployed to strengthen cleanliness operations. To enhance transparency and efficiency, advanced facial attendance software for workers and a 24/7 online vehicle tracking system were also introduced. During 2025 more than 35,000 LWMC workers remained actively engaged across the Lahore Division, including Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib. Over 900,000 tonnes of waste were safely disposed of from the Lahore Division during the year. The public facilitation mechanisms, including Helpline 1139, Suthra Punjab Portal and the Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell addressed more than 200,000 complaints ensuring improved service delivery and responsiveness. Meanwhile, the LWMC Enforcement Wing conducted inspections at over 670,000 locations. In Lahore, action against illegal dumping resulted in 5,861 challans, 698 prosecutions, and 60 FIRs, while 306 loader rickshaws and vehicles involved in unlawful waste disposal were impounded. Fines amounting to Rs107 million were also imposed. At the provincial level more than 11 million tonnes of waste were disposed of during 2025. For the first time in Punjab’s history 144 landfill sites and 500 temporary collection points were established to strengthen waste disposal infrastructure. To further institutionalise service delivery reforms, the Suthra Punjab Authority was formally established across the province, marking a significant step toward sustainable, efficient and modern sanitation services.