Garbage Tax in Punjab Explained: Residents Have to Pay Up to Rs 5,000 Every Month

The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) will start issuing garbage collection bills to Lahore residents next week under the Clean Punjab Project. The government will implement the garbage tax in Punjab in phases across nine towns of the city.What is the Garbage Tax in Punjab? Garbage tax introduced in Punjab under the Suthra Punjab Bill is a sanitary charge used in garnering funds that can be used to collect and discard the waste. At the start, billing will be done to the high ticket residential neighbourhoods and commercial localities on a per-marla basis.

Fee Structure for Urban Areas for Garbage Tax in Punjab

• Up to 5 marla: Rs 300 per month
• 5–10 marla: Rs 500 per month
• 10 marla – 1 kanal: Rs 1,000 per month
• 2–4 kanals: Rs 2,000 per month
• Over 4 kanals: Rs 5,000 per month

Fee Structure for Rural Areas

• Up to 10 marla: Rs 200 per month
• 10 marla – 1 kanal: Rs 400 per month
• Above 2 kanals: Rs 400 per month

Garbage Tax in Punjab: Commercial Property Charges

• Urban shops/markets: Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 per month
• Rural shops/markets: Rs 300 to Rs 2,000 per month

Garbage Tax in Punjab Payment and Billing Process

LWMC confirmed that bills will first delivered in printed form for two months. After that, payments will shift to digital channels, including banks and mobile applications. A dedicated online platform for the Suthra Punjab Bill also planned.

Garbage Tax in Punjab Revenue and Project Goals

The Punjab government expects to generate Rs 15 billion in fiscal year 2025–26 through the Suthra Punjab initiative. The funds will be used for:

• Expanding waste disposal infrastructure
• Landfill development
• Equipment procurement
• Staff salaries
• Recycling and sanitation improvements

The projected amount of Punjab garbage tax revenue during 2026-27 would be Rs 65-68 billion. The new sanitation fee led to the concerns of the residents, with protests reported in some locales. Critics say that the new taxes must be accompanied by visible changes to desirable outcomes like garbage collection as part of the Clean Punjab Project.