LAHORE: Punjab has launched its most extensive sanitation operation in history to coincide with Eid-ul-Adha, with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directly overseeing the nationwide effort. The campaign involves the deployment of over 176,000 sanitation workers and 40,000 vehicles, ensuring cleanliness across urban and rural areas throughout the province.
For the first time, a comprehensive, real-time reporting system connecting eight different departments has been activated to monitor sanitation activities during the holiday. Deputy and assistant commissioners have been assigned to supervise cleanliness efforts in various districts, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Dera Gazi Khan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, and Sahiwal.
Specialized teams under the “Suthra Punjab” initiative have been mobilized to conduct intensive cleaning operations in neighborhoods, markets, mosques, Eid grounds, cemeteries, and main roads from early morning hours. The campaign includes washing and disinfecting roads leading to major prayer sites, along with lime marking to maintain hygiene standards.
To prevent improper disposal of animal remains, dedicated monitoring units have been stationed in markets and residential areas, with violators risking fines up to Rs50,000. Streets and markets are being sanitized with disinfectants and treated with rose water to control odors and promote hygiene during the festivities.
In a bid to enhance waste management, the provincial government established “Suthra Punjab” camps across all 4,000 union councils. The operation has seen the active participation of more than 176,000 sanitation workers, with an additional 8,000 hired specifically for Eid tasks.
Transporting animal waste is facilitated by over 40,000 vehicles, along with 12,000 loader rickshaws assigned based on the size of the local councils two for smaller, three for medium-sized, and four for larger councils. Additionally, approximately 12.5 million eco-friendly waste bags have been distributed door-to-door to help residents dispose of sacrificial remains responsibly and safely during the holiday.
