Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed federal and provincial governments to accelerate work on a national policy to generate electricity from solid waste, linking environmental reform with long-term energy security.
Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister ordered authorities to move beyond traditional waste collection and adopt a modern, technology-driven solid waste management system that can convert urban waste into usable energy.
Why the policy matters for Pakistan
Pakistan generates an estimated 48 to 50 million tonnes of solid waste every year, much of which is dumped openly in major cities such as Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad. Poor waste handling has led to rising air pollution, groundwater contamination and public health risks, while the country continues to rely heavily on imported fuels for electricity.
The Pakistan solid waste energy policy aims to address several challenges at once. These include reducing energy shortages, cutting fuel imports, lowering pressure on foreign exchange reserves and improving urban environmental conditions.
How electricity will be produced from waste
Officials briefed the prime minister that a national roadmap will be developed to guide electricity generation from municipal waste using globally proven methods.
Key elements under consideration include
- Waste segregation at source to improve efficiency
- Incineration and gasification plants for power generation
- Landfill gas recovery to capture methane emissions
- Public-private partnerships to attract local and foreign investment
A practical insight shared during the meeting was that countries such as China and Turkey now run large-scale waste-to-energy plants that power entire urban zones, showing the model can work when supported by stable policy and proper pricing mechanisms.
Also read: PM Shehbaz Sees “New Chapter” as Pakistan’s First Astronaut Candidates Leave for China
Task force to lead implementation
To ensure execution, PM Shehbaz ordered the formation of a special task force made up of local experts, private-sector waste management firms and international specialists in waste-to-energy technology.
The task force will prepare detailed recommendations, including city-level pilot projects, financing options and timelines aligned with climate and green energy funding frameworks.
Economic and environmental impact
Officials said converting solid waste into electricity could save Pakistan billions of rupees annually by reducing fuel imports. It would also ease pressure on landfills, cut methane emissions and create new jobs in recycling, energy production and environmental services.
The prime minister stressed that waste-to-energy is not only an environmental reform but an economic necessity as Pakistan looks for sustainable solutions amid global energy volatility.
Policy direction going forward
PM Shehbaz said the initiative fits into Pakistan’s broader goals of expanding renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions and modernising urban infrastructure.
Also read: Pakistan Approves Peshawar Waste-to-Fuel Project
He instructed ministries to focus on implementation rather than paperwork, noting that unmanaged waste has become a major threat to public health and city governance.
The Pakistan solid waste energy policy is expected to move into the implementation phase once the task force submits its roadmap, with pilot projects likely to begin in major urban centres.
