Punjab Advances Suthra Punjab Program with Focus on Waste-to-Energy and Carbon Credits

LAHORE – The Punjab government has entered the next phase of its Suthra Punjab Program, aiming to transform municipal waste into economic assets while tackling environmental concerns. A key component of the initiative involves converting landfill sites around major cities, including Lahore, into revenue-generating projects through carbon credit trading and biogas production.

One such site, the Lakhodare landfill near Lahore, is projected to generate PKR 1 billion annually through carbon credit sales under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the site has the capacity to produce up to 20 tons of biogas daily.

During a meeting chaired by Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, officials discussed strategies for recycling and energy generation from municipal and animal waste. Among the attendees were Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Additional Secretary for Development Ahmer Kaifi, and LWMC CEO Babar Sahib Din, who presented an overview of proposed recycling methods and their economic potential.

Minister Rafiq shared plans to utilize animal waste, particularly offal, for energy generation—estimating that Lahore alone could produce up to 1,000 tons of energy. He also directed the organization of a roadshow in Lahore or Islamabad to showcase Punjab’s waste-to-energy projects to local and international investors, with additional events planned abroad.

Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian stressed that waste recycling is globally acknowledged as a vital tool in combating environmental degradation and urged the preparation of a detailed proposal for presentation to the Chief Minister.

LWMC CEO Babar Sahib Din revealed that a 50 MW power plant is under consideration in collaboration with the Punjab Energy Department. He also highlighted that under the broader Clean Punjab initiative, substantial volumes of municipal waste are collected in Lahore daily, and multiple national and international firms have already shown interest in the province’s recycling and energy conversion ventures.