The Suthra Punjab programme, launched by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has achieved another major international recognition.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) said that after global outlets such as the BBC, Forbes and Bloomberg, Gulf News has also named Suthra Punjab the world’s largest and most comprehensive waste management system.
According to the international media outlet, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set a new global standard in climate-smart urban governance, demonstrating that innovation is not limited to developed nations.
The report said that under the Suthra Punjab initiative, the government has deployed around 30,000 vehicles and more than 150,000 workers across the province to manage nearly 50,000 tonnes of waste every day.
With real-time monitoring of both workers and vehicles, the programme has emerged as a model system for cities around the world.
The initiative has also created dignified employment for over 150,000 people. The KPI-based payment system for contractors has been highlighted as a strong example of transparency and improved service delivery.
Suthra Punjab also ensures public involvement through an effective complaints management system.
Meanwhile, work is underway on a five-megawatt solar park and an urban forest at the Mahmood Booti dumping site. Future plans include recycling plants, a 25-megawatt waste-to-energy project, and other waste-to-value initiatives, which have already attracted strong interest from international investors.
