The Punjab government has decided to establish the Suthra Punjab Authority under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, aiming to improve and streamline cleanliness and waste management systems across the province.
The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government has approved the Suthra Punjab Authority Bill 2025, paving the way for the formal establishment of the authority.
According to the bill, the Suthra Punjab Authority will function as an empowered corporate body. The chief minister will serve as its chairperson, while the minister for local government will act as vice chairperson. Secretaries of various departments and all divisional commissioners will be members of the authority.
Under the law, the authority will be responsible for formulating waste management policies, setting rules and standards, and constructing landfill sites to ensure effective waste disposal across Punjab.
The bill further states that the deputy commissioner will serve as the chairperson of the Suthra Punjab District Authority, which will also have powers related to licensing, registration, and fee collection.
In addition, the district authority will appoint waste management inspectors, while improving cleanliness and hygiene in rural areas will also fall under the authority’s mandate.
The legislation allows the Suthra Punjab Authority to set fees for its services, and it specifies that decisions taken by the authority cannot be challenged directly in court.
