LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to impose fines on individuals and businesses responsible for spreading litter, as part of its expanding drive to improve cleanliness across the province.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, focused on the progress of the “Suthra Punjab” initiative. She directed officials to present a comprehensive plan for the waste-to-value project by mid-January.
Officials briefed the chief minister that public feedback on the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive across the province. Vehicle tracking systems and live container monitoring are currently being used for oversight, while salaries and payments within the Suthra Punjab project have been fully digitalized to ensure transparency.
Maryam Nawaz praised the rapid expansion of the new system, calling it “nothing short of a miracle,” noting that it was started from scratch and continues to improve with time. She added that an integrated sanitation system for both urban and rural areas should have been established years ago.
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The meeting approved strict action against those who litter in commercial areas or on public roads. Under the new policy, anyone caught spreading garbage in Punjab will face fines.
The government also announced that sanitation vehicles will gradually be converted into environmentally friendly electric vehicles. Additionally, the province will begin generating energy from waste as part of its long-term sustainability plans.
