Lahore: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has directed the rapid development of new waste management infrastructure at the tehsil level, including waste enclosures, dumping sites, and temporary collection points, with an aim to have control rooms operational by the end of the month.

According to Zameen.Com, the decision came after a meeting with CEOs from Waste Management Companies last Thursday, which was also attended by Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian. The meeting focused on the Suthra Punjab initiative and the outsourcing of sanitation services. Minister Rafiq highlighted the critical need for completing population assessments and recovery details in selected tehsils as part of the program’s first phase.

The minister underscored that the new sanitation model would strictly follow a door-to-door waste collection approach, ensuring that each area is cleaned three times a week. He also stated that cleanliness scores would play a significant role in the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set by the Punjab Chief Minister for this initiative. Additionally, Rafiq mentioned that the collection of fees would be deferred during the initial three to four months post-implementation to facilitate the transition to the new system.