To improve refuse collection in the provincial capital, the Punjab government has proposed to divide the city into six zones, four urban zones and two rural zones, and garbage will be collected from homes through vehicles.

In this connection, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting which was held here on Friday to review the new cleanliness system of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC). Punjab Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Secretary Finance, Chairman and MD LWMC and others attended the meeting.

The meeting was told that the citizens will handover their garbage to the vehicles and the shortage of containers will also be fulfilled and tracking system will be installed in garbage collecting vehicles.

It was further told that garbage will be handed over to five transfer stations for its onward transfer to landfill sites. It is also proposed to develop a new landfill site to properly dispose of the garbage.

The CM directed to further improve the cleanliness system in the provincial metropolis, adding that the new model should be materialised at the earliest. Similarly, he further directed to improve the service delivery mechanism as the whole city of Lahore will be covered through the new system. "There is also a need to start work on waste-to-energy," he added.

The CM was briefed by the Punjab Local Government Secretary that around 6000 tonnes solid waste is daily generated in Lahore and citizens do not put their garbage into the containers. "The option of setting up new landfill sites is available on the other side of river Ravi and Akhterabad," they added.