Over the past six months, the Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC) has cleared more than 615,400 tonnes of solid waste across 16 tehsils, following the privatization of sanitation services under a new operational model.
This effort is part of the Punjab government’s “Suthra Punjab” campaign, which aims to raise urban cleanliness standards and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
FWMC sources revealed that over 15,000 sanitation workers, along with 5,199 waste containers and 3,014 machinery units, have been deployed throughout the region to ensure consistent waste collection from both households and public areas.
The large-scale sanitation reform, initiated by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, stems from her November 2024 approval to outsource sanitation operations for all eight waste management companies in Punjab.
A six-month performance review conducted by the Central Control Room of the Punjab Local Government Department ranked Bhowana Tehsil in Chiniot District as the best-performing tehsil among 132 across the province. The recognition was based on high sanitation standards, operational effectiveness, and prompt complaint resolution.
Jalalpur Pirwala in Multan District and Bahawalnagar claimed the second and third spots, respectively. The evaluation assessed key indicators, including workforce attendance, vehicle tracking, waste container deployment, public complaint handling, and volume of waste collected. A total of 26 tehsils recorded efficiency scores above 90 percent.
Seven of these top-performing tehsils fall within the Faisalabad Division: Jaranwala, Pir Mahal, Gojra, Kamalia, Chiniot, Lalian, and Toba Tek Singh.
Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq emphasized that systematic performance monitoring is essential for the sustainability of the program. He noted that while municipal bodies previously managed around 28,000 tonnes of daily waste, the revamped system aims to handle up to 60,000 tonnes, improving disposal methods and reducing environmental risks.
Rafiq also mentioned the creation of tehsil-level control rooms and highlighted that the outsourcing initiative has generated over 100,000 employment opportunities.
FWMC CEO Rauf Ahmad credited Bhowana Tehsil’s top ranking to the dedication of the on-ground teams and the support of provincial and district-level authorities.