Suthra Punjab worsens air quality
FI
Home 28,000 vehicles are deployed daily to collect garbage from the city Where Lahore is already grappling with severe air pollution, ironically the “Suthra Punjab Program,” launched to clean the city, is itself contributing to the worsening air quality. Under this initiative, more than 28,000 vehicles are deployed daily to collect garbage from streets, neighborhoods, and highways. These vehicles may be cleaning the ground, but they are simultaneously polluting the air. According to a 2023 report by the Urban Unit, the transport sector accounts for nearly 39 per cent of the total pollution. While the government is cracking down on smoke-emitting vehicles and has made emission tests mandatory, thousands of petrol and diesel-powered sanitation vehicles are still operating daily across the city as part of the cleaning efforts. The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has reported that 28,069 small and large vehicles, including loader rickshaws, pickup vans, and large collection trucks are engaged in the cleaning process every day. Their activity peaks during the morning hours, which coincides with a time when the city’s air quality is already at its most fragile.
Published: October 31, 2025 4:55 pm
Source: The Express Tribune — Read original