Punjab is preparing a waste-to-energy policy under its Suthra Punjab initiative, with plans to lease public land for biogas, recycling and renewable energy projects. A pilot bio-CNG plant at Lahore’s Lakhodair landfill has already started production.
LAHORE: The Punjab government is working on a policy framework to turn municipal waste into energy and commercially usable products as it expands the Suthra Punjab initiative, with officials considering incentives and land leases for private-sector projects across the province.
Under the proposed plan, public land could be leased to private companies for waste-to-energy, biogas and recycling ventures intended to cut environmental pollution while producing renewable energy and generating revenue from waste. Officials said the policy is being developed to modernise the province’s waste management system and move away from the long-standing collect-and-dump model that has contributed to overflowing landfill sites, methane emissions and urban pollution.
According to officials, the rules and conditions for leasing government land to environmentally sustainable projects are being finalised, while detailed regulatory guidelines are also under preparation. The latest move comes as the provincial government speeds up work on the Waste to Value phase of the Suthra Punjab programme launched under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Pilot project at Lakhodair
Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique recently described the initiative as an important step towards converting thousands of tonnes of collected waste into energy and reusable products through modern technology. Speaking at a project review meeting, he said a pilot bio-CNG facility at Lahore’s Lakhodair landfill site had already begun production.
The minister said the plant was producing 85 kilograms of CNG per day from waste at the initial stage and that the methane concentration target would be raised further. “Initially, 85 kilograms of CNG were being produced daily from waste, but the methane concentration target would be increased further,” he said.
Officials have described the project as a self-sustaining circular economy model aimed at reducing waste while also creating renewable energy and economic returns.
Further projects under consideration
The provincial government’s current plans build on several pilot projects launched over the past year in Lahore and other urban centres. Environmental experts say the pressure created by Punjab’s fast-growing urban population and rising waste generation has made sustainable waste management reform increasingly urgent.
For now, officials said work on the regulatory structure and investment model is continuing. They added that more pilot schemes and public-private partnerships are expected in the coming months as Punjab seeks to advance climate-focused urban development and green infrastructure.
