Punjab is preparing to convert thousands of tons of municipal waste into electricity, with a landmark 50-megawatt (MW) pilot project in Lahore set to lead the way. The initiative, part of the provincial government’s Suthra Punjab Programme, was announced Friday by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique following a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat.
The pilot plant will be located at Sundar Industrial Estate, near Lakho Der, a site capable of supplying the 3,000 tons of waste needed daily to sustain its energy output. Once operational, the plant will mark the first phase of a wider plan to generate a total of 150 MW from waste across Punjab.
Backing from Investors and Global Inspiration
Rafique revealed that five international firms have already shown interest in investing roughly Rs50 billion into the project. He directed provincial energy officials to explore constructing the plant under government management while adopting Japanese waste-to-energy technology known for its environmental safeguards.
The minister emphasized that the programme fits squarely into Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s “Clean and Green Punjab” vision, which aims to modernize waste management while tackling the province’s growing energy needs.
Expansion Beyond Lahore
According to officials, feasibility studies are underway to replicate the model in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sialkot. Secretary of Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian said plans for additional plants in these cities will be finalized in the coming months, while Secretary of Energy Dr. Farrukh Naveed confirmed that the pre-qualification of foreign bidders is nearing completion.
Turning Waste into a Resource
Punjab currently collects around 50,000 tons of solid waste every day, much of which ends up in overflowing dumpsites. Rafique stressed that this waste represents “a valuable energy resource” that could help reduce landfill use and improve urban sanitation.
Globally, waste-to-energy technology is rapidly expanding: there are more than 1,200 operational plants worldwide, including 300 in China alone with a combined capacity of 11,000 MW, and 800 more under construction.
The Suthra Punjab Programme has already created thousands of jobs through waste management projects, and Rafique said this new energy initiative will further boost employment while making the province a pioneer in green energy production.