LAHORE: Treasury members on Tuesday expressed reservations over the proposed Suthra Punjab Authority during a meeting of the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government, as lawmakers debated the scope, structure and implications of the new body aimed at improving waste management across the province.
The meeting, chaired by MPA Pir Ashraf Rasool, was convened at the Punjab Assembly to deliberate on the Suthra Punjab Authority Bill, 2025. Officials from the Law Department, Local Government Department and the Punjab Assembly Secretariat attended the session, during which the bill was reviewed clause by clause and potential amendments were discussed to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a centralised authority responsible for solid waste management, sanitation and environmental hygiene throughout Punjab. According to the bill’s objectives, the authority would modernise waste collection, recycling and disposal systems in both urban and rural areas, with the aim of improving public health and environmental standards.
While committee members acknowledged the potential benefits of the initiative — including cleaner cities, better sanitation services, environmental protection, employment generation and the promotion of sustainable waste management practices — several concerns were raised regarding its structure and implementation.
Treasury members cautioned that excessive centralisation could undermine the role of local governments and create overlaps with existing departments performing similar functions. Some lawmakers also questioned whether the establishment of a new authority would place an additional financial burden on the provincial exchequer at a time of fiscal constraints.
Implementation challenges, particularly in rural areas, were also highlighted. Members noted that differences in population density, infrastructure and administrative capacity across Punjab could complicate the uniform application of a centralised waste management model.
During the discussion, committee chairperson Pir Ashraf Rasool expressed displeasure over the absence of the secretary of the Local Government Department. He remarked that the non-attendance of the senior official reflected a lack of seriousness on the part of the department regarding the proposed legislation, and stressed the need for greater engagement by relevant authorities in the legislative process.
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Separately, the Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution paying tribute to Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir. The resolution, tabled by treasury MPA Ahmad Shahryar, lauded the army chief’s leadership and his emphasis on self-accountability within the armed forces.
Chairperson Pir Ashraf Rasool expressed displeasure at the absence of the local government secretary.https://t.co/mRn0v7ngYb
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 24, 2025
The resolution stated that under Gen Munir’s command, the armed forces had reinforced the principles of transparency, rule of law and constitutional supremacy. It also welcomed the Field General Court Martial verdict sentencing retired Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment on charges including abuse of authority.
The assembly reaffirmed that no individual, regardless of rank or position, was above the law, describing accountability as essential for institutional credibility, state stability and public trust.
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