LAHORE: The Punjab government has achieved a historic milestone by disposing of a record-breaking 376,000 tonnes of animal waste and solid refuse across the province during the Chand Raat and three days of Eid-ul-Azha, surpassing its previous sanitation records.
While addressing a press conference on Saturday, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced that under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, a historic sanitation operation was successfully conducted across Punjab during Eid-ul-Azha 2026. Over 184,000 sanitation workers and 40,000 machinery units worked continuously for 72 hours in extreme heat to ensure a clean environment, she added.
“The operation involved establishing 290 cattle markets, deploying teams at 1,278 altars, and cleaning 6,500 mosques. A total of 376,000 tons of waste were managed, with 12 million biodegradable bags distributed to citizens. The initiative was supported by drone surveillance and digital monitoring via the Suthra Punjab dashboard,” she added.
He announced that in recognition of their efforts, sanitation workers will receive a special reward of Rs10,000. Plans are underway to create regular altars at the union council level for better organisation and eco-friendliness in future sacrifices.
She also announced the expansion of the Suthra Punjab programme to every district and neighbourhood in the province, including Walton and Cantonment, to ensure uniform sanitation facilities. “The Punjab government is also working on a waste-to-energy project in Mehmood Buti and installing incinerators, alongside a pilot biogas project. Safety gear for sanitation workers is being provided, with fines for violations,” she added.
Additionally, she said, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority has been restructured to implement a digital system for managing emergencies. She expressed that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is recovering well after surgery and aims to enhance Punjab’s development through public service, environmental protection, and health initiatives.
She highlighted the Punjab government’s initiatives, saying current projects include underground drainage and sewerage systems in 66 cities, along with green programmes for cleanliness and environmental awareness in schools. She commended sanitation workers for their vital contributions and later recognised their efforts at the Clean Punjab Authority.
Meanwhile, according to an official, under the strict supervision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the province-wide ‘Suthra Punjab’ operation utilised round-the-clock digital monitoring, including Safe City cameras and drones, to ensure unprecedented levels of hygiene and prompt service delivery, said a government spokesperson on Saturday.
The province-wide operation surpassed the 2025 record of 357,000 tonnes of sacrificial waste, remains and garbage collected during Eid-ul-Azha. Sanitation teams removed approximately 55,000 tonnes of waste on Chand Raat, 126,188 tonnes on the first day of Eid, 113,233 tonnes on the second day and 82,163 tonnes on the third day.
The spokesperson said that door-to-door collection of animal remains and waste was carried out across the province, with all collected material transported to designated collection points before being safely disposed of at approved dumping sites.
The government claimed that residents expressed satisfaction over the cleanliness arrangements, particularly the timely removal of sacrificial waste from residential areas. Citizens also appreciated the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for ensuring prompt sanitation services during the Eid holidays.
The cleanliness operation remained under continuous supervision, with commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners monitoring field activities across the province. Control rooms established at provincial, divisional, district and tehsil levels remained operational round the clock to oversee the campaign.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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