n a meeting last Friday, the chief executive officer of Rawalpindi Waste Management Company informed the commissioner that 118 out of the 179 union councils in Rawalpindi had been made ‘zero waste’ areas as part of the new government plan to swiftly dispose of solid waste.

This, the company representatives claimed, was done as part of the ‘zero waste’ campaign for the Rawalpindi district. Rawalpindi Waste Management Company officials described ‘waste free’ or ‘zero waste’ campaign as an initiative aimed at “…preventing trash from piling up in neighbourhoods.“

However, many citizens say that not much has changed on ground. “The claims of the local authorities are false,” says M Anees, a resident of Rawalpindi. “The waste in our area is being lifted as per old routine and there is nothing special going on here,” he says.

A visit to various parts of the city supports Anees’s claim that it is business as usual and no special measures have been taken to dispose of garbage.

An RWMC official, on the other hand, confirmed that a campaign had been initiated to make the city ‘waste-free.’ “We are trying our best, it may take some time before you start noticing the difference,” he said.

In February, after the government was formed, chief executive officer of the RWMC Rana Sajid Safdar announced a grand cleanliness drive. He said that the RWMC would focus on removing waste from open plots, graveyards, public parks, bus stands, major roads and intersections as well as other important places in the city.

“A ‘zero-waste’ campaign is being initiated in Rawalpindi on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz under the Suthra Punjab project of the government,” he said.

In February, after the government was formed, chief executive officer of the RWMC Rana Sajid Safdar announced a grand cleanliness drive. He said that the RWMC would focus on removing waste from open plots, graveyards, public parks, bus stands, major roads and intersections as well as other important places in the city.

A 585-kanal dumping site of Rawalpindi situated in the area of Losar is already running out of capacity, according to reports. It was also planned that a new dumping site, comprising 1,251 kanals would be established in the Sahang area of Gujjar Khan. This is yet to be done.

According to a report, Integrated solid waste management plan for Rawalpindi, prepared by the Punjab Urban Unit in 2023, the waste issues and challenges are wide ranging. They include inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks for solid waste management, lack of awareness among municipal residents regarding proper solid waste handling and treatment due to a shortage of experience with environmental policy, lack of operational data as well as managerial, financial and technological difficulties involved in building and operating a waste treatment facility.

“Such issues lead to poor waste management practices, resulting in environmental degradation, public health risks and reduced quality of life for residents,” says the report.

Currently, the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company and respective municipalities are responsible for the waste management within urban areas and MCs of Rawalpindi division.

The RWMC are managing the waste in an efficient way within their jurisdiction but lack human and financial resources.

A few months ago, the Asian Development Bank approved a $180 million loan to improve water supply and solid waste management for Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur.

The writer is a staff member. He tweets at @waqargillani