Punjab govt imposes new ‘garbage tax’ – Check monthly rates

LAHORE: The Government of Punjab has introduced a new ‘garbage tax‘ across the province under its Suthra Punjab drive, ranging from Rs200 to Rs2000.

Following the approval from the Cabinet Division, the plan will be initially applied to upscale residential and commercial areas of Lahore district, with plans to expand the collection to other districts.

As per details, the Lahore Waste Management Company’s (LWMC) revenue and operational teams will collect the garbage levy from the provincial capital.

The waste management authority has already started distributing bills, which officials say will improve waste management and generate funds to support a cleaner Punjab.

Under the new rates, rural households up to five marlas will pay Rs200 per month, while Rs300 will be charged from urban homes of the same size.

Similarly, houses between five and 10 marlas will pay Rs500 in urban settlements compared with Rs200 in rural areas.

For the commercial sector, small shops will be charged Rs500 in cities and Rs300 in villages. Medium-sized shops will pay Rs1,000 in urban areas and Rs700 in rural areas, while large commercial establishments will face a levy of Rs3,000 in cities and Rs2,000 in villages.