Islamabad’s Zones IV and V: CDA approves solid waste management plan for 65 UCs

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approved a comprehensive solid waste management plan for 65 union councils in Islamabad’s Zones IV and V, bringing large parts of the federal capital’s previously underserved rural areas under a formal waste collection and disposal system.

Under the plan, around 342 tonnes of solid waste will be managed daily, with 1,610 personnel and 103 units of machinery to be deployed across the two zones, according to the CDA.

The CDA Board has approved the Integrated Operations and Resource Planning System, which will introduce door-to-door waste collection, GPS-based vehicle tracking, route optimisation, digital monitoring and performance-based sanitation services.

The initiative will cover Bani Gala, Ghuri Town, Lehtrar and other rural and peri-urban localities in Zones IV and V, where residents have historically lacked a regular and organised solid waste collection system.

The authority said the project was being implemented under the leadership of CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf in line with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s vision to improve municipal services across the federal capital.

A key component of the plan is the introduction of a complete waste-management chain, starting with door-to-door collection and followed by route-optimised transportation, transfer and compaction, bulk transportation and environmentally compliant final disposal.

Given the scattered settlements, narrow roads and longer collection routes in rural Islamabad, the CDA will deploy mini-tippers, handcarts and other machinery suited to local conditions.

The authority will also establish a Central Command and Control Centre to monitor sanitation operations. GPS and Vehicle Tracking and Monitoring Systems will be used to track vehicles and verify routes, while digital attendance and field deployment systems will be introduced to improve workforce accountability.

Union council-wise performance reports will be prepared daily to identify missed collections, complaints, vehicle breakdowns, and manpower shortages. The monitoring mechanism will also incorporate facial monitoring and support from the Safe City system, according to the CDA.

The new model will introduce measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for waste collection, sweeping, mechanical operations, transfer-station activities and other sanitation services. Failure to meet prescribed performance standards will be subject to deductions under the performance mechanism.

The CDA said the system was being introduced with the assistance of a Turkish waste management company to incorporate international operational practices, modern machinery, resource optimisation and technology-based monitoring.

CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf said no area of Islamabad would be neglected in the provision of sanitation services, stressing that cleanliness and environmental sustainability should not remain confined to the developed urban sectors of the capital. The plan also provides for protective equipment and standardised uniforms for sanitation workers, including high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety shoes and masks. Member Environment Abdullah Khurrum Niazi will supervise implementation of the project.

The CDA said the initiative was aimed at replacing ad hoc sanitation arrangements in rural Islamabad with a structured and accountable system based on population, waste generation, road networks, geographical spread and the operational requirements of individual areas.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026