The Sustainable Development Goal number 11 lays stress on the safe removal and management of solid waste for the cities of the world. This has always been a challenge, as far as Lahore is concerned. Various mechanisms have been adopted in the past to deal with it. With urban development taking place at a fast pace, and congested areas becoming even more congested, the volume of solid waste produced in the city has increased considerably. Besides, the not-so-environment-friendly habits of the citizens add to the woes of those responsible for keeping the city clean.

People burning solid waste in open plots, and throwing it on roadsides or even outside their houses is still common practice. Unfortunately, they do not bother to walk up to the waste bins/containers placed not very far.

However, despite these issues, a major development in the tenure of Mian Shehbaz Sharif as chief minister of Punjab was that solid waste management was outsourced to two Turkish companies — Albayrak and Ozpak. Earlier, solid waste management was the responsibility of the Solid Waste Department (SWD) working under the City District Government Limited (CDGL).

Albayrak and Ozpak brought in hi-tech machines and vehicles to improve the quality of work and reduce response time. The services of a large number of sanitary workers, who were earlier employed with the SWD, were put at the disposal of these companies.

The LWMC was formed under Section 42 of the Companies’ Ordinance, 1984, on March 19, 2010. The company is limited by guarantee having no share capital, and is formed as a not-for-profit within Section-42 of the Companies’ Ordinance. The LMWC is governed by a board of directors, which is headed by a chairman. Through an agreement called SAAMA (Services and Asset Management Agreement), all functions and assets of the SWM department of the CDGL and the TMAs have been entrusted to the LWMC.

No pretty sight

Things have gone south, ever since the PTI government took charge. The sight of heaps of solid waste lying about on roadsides and at collection points is painful for those who belong to the city as well as those visiting it. Every other day, the employees of the said Turkish companies go on strikes, demanding the clearance of their outstanding dues.

The strike, announced in February 2019, had an unbearable impact on the environment of the city and resulted in piling up of heaps of solid waste across the city. Allegedly, some of the employees announced at the behest of Turkish companies that they were facing inquiries and difficulties in getting their dues cleared.

So, how can solid waste management of the city be made sustainable and not dependent on heavy cash injections by the governments? That’s the question. It is especially relevant in the context of the statements made by the sitting government’s representatives who have termed it imprudent to pay such huge amounts of tax-payers’ money to foreign companies.

Jamil Khawar, spokesman for LWMC, says that there are several suggestions on which the government is working to make the company more efficient and its functions cost-effective. For example, there is a suggestion to “bring the contract period down from seven years, award contracts to multiple companies to promote competition and discourage monopoly and blackmailing, increase the powers of the LWMC to impose fines, include a provision for a 90-day notice to companies to improve their performance or quit etc.”

Khawar says that new contracts will be awarded in Pakistani currency and not in dollars as was the case. Besides, local companies will be accommodated — that is, if they meet the required criteria. He reveals that “Several companies such as Daewoo and Waste Busters have applied.”

The World Bank has also carried out a study on how to make waste management efficient and cost-effective in the province. Its report, titled Punjab Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy, makes recommendations like increasing the number of services that the LWMC can provide — for instance, green waste management, recycling programmes to reduce landfill dumping, introducing tariffs for door-to-door collection of waste, and so on. This will enable the company to earn revenues as well as cut costs and become sustainable.

Last but not the least, a waste-to-energy project is under consideration, and a Chinese company has shown interest in investment. The LWMC has decided terms and conditions with the company, and the proposal is with the Punjab government for approval. Once through, the company will be able to earn money from this option and become more viable financially.