Lahore: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has called for a stronger public-awareness campaign to increase citizen participation in the Suthra Punjab Programme, saying even a large sanitation system cannot achieve full results without public cooperation. He made the remarks while chairing the fifth meeting of the Suthra Punjab Authority, where administrative, financial and operational matters were reviewed.
According to the meeting briefing, Suthra Punjab now operates a digitally monitored sanitation network involving around 180,000 workers and 40,000 vehicles and fleet assets. These figures are also reflected on Suthra Punjab’s official public-service portal, which describes GPS vehicle tracking, worker monitoring, geo-tagged field activity and complaint management as part of the system.
Rafiq said the programme needs greater citizen participation and behavioural change, particularly in proper waste disposal and public cleanliness. The official Suthra Punjab platform similarly encourages residents to report sanitation problems through its complaint system, app and 1139 helpline.
The minister also said Suthra Punjab is moving toward the next stage of Waste-to-Value, aimed at making productive use of collected waste. Official programme updates identify recycling, composting, recovery and engineered disposal as part of the longer-term waste-management strategy.
The institutional structure has also changed. Rafiq said an authority-and-district-agency model has replaced the earlier company-based structure from July 2026. The legal basis for the Suthra Punjab Authority and district-level agencies is contained in the Suthra Punjab Authority Act 2026.
