ISLAMABAD: In a significant step towards sustainable waste management and clean energy development, the federal government has constituted an 18-member high-level task force to formulate a comprehensive national Waste-to-Energy (WtE) policy aimed at addressing regulatory gaps and attracting investment in the sector.
According to an official notification issued by the Power Division, the task force has been established on the directives of the Prime Minister to review the existing policy and regulatory framework and propose measures for the development of waste-to-energy projects across Pakistan.
Federal Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, will serve as the convenor of the task force. Other key members include Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiyani, and senior representatives from the ministries of Climate Change, Inter-Provincial Coordination, and other relevant federal institutions.
The task force also includes representatives from all provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring broad-based participation from local government, energy, and environmental departments.
To encourage public-private collaboration, the body comprises representatives from leading industrial groups, including DG Cement, Fauji Cement, and Bestway Cement, alongside officials from the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), Capital Development Authority (CDA), and environmental regulatory agencies.
Under its Terms of Reference (ToRs), the task force will evaluate Pakistan’s existing waste-to-energy framework against international best practices and identify legal, regulatory, financial, and operational barriers impeding sector growth.
The committee has been tasked with recommending legislative and regulatory reforms, improving coordination among stakeholders, and formulating a national policy framework that promotes private-sector participation through a clear implementation roadmap.
The task force has been directed to submit its recommendations and final report within one month. It may also co-opt additional experts and stakeholders as required to fulfill its mandate.
Officials believe the initiative has the potential to transform Pakistan’s waste management landscape by converting municipal and industrial waste into a valuable energy resource, while simultaneously reducing environmental pollution, supporting climate goals, and strengthening the country’s energy security.
Story by Mushtaq Ghumman
