Residents and shopkeepers in upscale areas of Punjab will start receiving monthly cleanliness bills from September 1, a step the government says will help keep these areas “zero-waste.” The move also aims to reduce health and medical risks linked to poor waste management.
According to Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) CEO Babir Sahib Din, all property owners in posh localities of Lahore—including Gulberg, Johar Town, Muslim Town, New Muslim Town, Shadman, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Upper Mall, Canal Road, Mall Road, and Jail Road—will be charged from next month. Private housing societies remain exempt as they run their own disposal systems.
The Punjab cabinet had earlier approved the cleanliness fee under the Suthra Punjab Programme. In case of non-payment, services will be cut off after two months, while littering could result in heavy fines or even FIRs.
Under the new rates, a five-marla house will pay Rs. 300, ten-marla Rs. 500, while one kanal and above will be charged Rs. 1,000. Shops and businesses will pay between Rs. 500 and Rs. 3,000 depending on their size and nature. For rural houses, the fee is fixed at Rs. 200.
READ MORE: Punjab Imposes Sanitation Fee for All Residents
Din added that posh localities in other districts including Multan, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Sargodha, will also receive these bills soon. He warned that inspectors will patrol the areas and anyone caught littering will face immediate penalties.
The CEO stressed that the new initiative is not just about cost recovery but about building responsibility and ensuring a cleaner environment with fewer medical hazards.
