LAHORE: The Punjab government is developing a comprehensive policy framework to convert municipal solid waste into energy and commercially usable products as part of its expanding Suthra Punjab programme, officials said.
The proposed policy aims to promote waste-to-energy, biogas, and recycling projects through public-private partnerships, with authorities considering incentives such as long-term land leases for private investors across the province.
Officials said public land may be allocated to private companies for environmentally sustainable projects designed to reduce pollution, manage growing waste volumes, and generate renewable energy while creating new revenue streams from urban waste.
The initiative seeks to replace the traditional collect-and-dump waste disposal system, which has contributed to overflowing landfills, methane emissions, and worsening urban environmental conditions.
The regulatory framework governing land leases and investment conditions is currently being finalised, alongside broader guidelines to facilitate private sector participation in waste management solutions.
The latest developments form part of the Waste-to-Value component of the Suthra Punjab programme launched under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique recently described the initiative as a key step toward transforming thousands of tonnes of municipal waste into usable energy and industrial products using modern technologies.
He noted that a pilot bio-compressed natural gas (bio-CNG) facility at Lahore’s Lakhodair landfill site has already started limited production, initially generating around 85 kilograms of CNG per day from waste, with plans to increase methane recovery and output capacity.
Officials said the project is being designed as a circular economy model, aimed at reducing environmental degradation while simultaneously creating economic value from waste resources.
Environmental experts say Punjab’s rapidly growing urban population and rising waste generation have made urgent reforms in waste management necessary, particularly in major cities like Lahore.
The provincial government is expected to roll out additional pilot projects and public-private partnerships in the coming months as part of its broader strategy to promote climate-friendly urban development and green infrastructure.
