150 hectares of land to handle 1,100 tons of waste daily; modern recycling plant planned
Water and sanitation workers clean a sewage drain amid a downpour in Faisalabad. Sanitation and water supply responsibilities in several cities have been transferred from municipal corporations to WASA. Photo: APP
FAISALABAD:
In a move aimed at overhauling Punjab’s antiquated waste disposal system, the Provincial Development Working Group has approved Rs 4.35 billion for setting up engineered landfills in two districts, one of them in Faisalabad.
The initiative is being implemented with the support of the Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC).
Official sources revealed that the Faisalabad landfill will be developed at Lakhoana on Jaranwala Road over 150 acres, with a daily capacity to handle 1,100 tonnes of waste.
The facility will also house an integrated waste recycling project that aims to reduce the burden on landfills and promote environmentally sustainable practices.
Briefing media representatives, Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar said the city was in urgent need of a modern landfill to address the growing challenges of waste disposal.
He added that approval of funds from PDWP marks an important milestone and field work will soon begin as per the approved design.
He noted that the project will be completed within the stipulated time frame and will significantly upgrade the waste management infrastructure of the district.
Meanwhile, PMDFC General Manager Adnan Nisar said work on two state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in Faisalabad and Gujranwala is also underway under a Design, Build and Operate (DBO) model.
Each MRF will process 500 tons of mixed municipal solid waste per day using advanced sorting technologies, reducing landfill pressure and promoting a circular economy.
He added that the initiative will reduce carbon emissions through increased recycling of plastics and textiles along with effective composting.
After a tender process completed between October 2024 and April 2025, FWMC signed the contract on 18 June, while Gujranwala Waste Management Company signed on 7 July.
Site assessments were completed on 4 June 2025 and the preliminary design report was submitted on 27 August.
