Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the ‘Suthra Punjab’ program, Pakistan’s first and largest initiative aimed at achieving a Zero Waste Punjab within three months. The program was inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Expo Centre, where Sharif inspected modern cleaning equipment and interacted with sanitation workers.

According to Chief Minister of Punjab, the Suthra Punjab program represents a significant effort by the provincial government to uniformly clean both urban and rural areas. The initiative includes the deployment of 21,000 modern machines and over 80,000 pieces of equipment for garbage collection and street cleaning across Punjab. Additionally, the program is expected to create employment opportunities for 100,000 people and promote the sanitation and waste management industry.

During her address, Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness and announced plans for regular dumping sites to replace scattered waste disposal. She also reflected on the state of Punjab’s infrastructure, citing deterioration following the tenure of Shahbaz Sharif, and criticized past protest movements for their lack of peaceful outcomes.

The Chief Minister called for a focus on welfare initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well, urging collaboration across provincial lines. The announcement included details of ongoing housing projects under the ‘Apni Chhat, Apni Ghar’ initiative, with plans to build 100,000 houses within a year.

Provincial Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique highlighted the daily challenge of managing 60,000 tonnes of waste, with current efforts collecting only 20,000 tonnes. He assured that measures are in place to ensure efficient waste management, particularly in Lahore, with penalties for non-compliance by waste collection companies.