Under this initiative, more than 28,000 vehicles are deployed daily to collect garbage from streets, neighborhoods, and highways. These vehicles may be cleaning the ground, but they are simultaneously polluting the air. According to a 2023 report by the Urban Unit, the transport sector accounts for nearly 39 per cent of the total pollution.
While the government is cracking down on smoke-emitting vehicles and has made emission tests mandatory, thousands of petrol and diesel-powered sanitation vehicles are still operating daily across the city as part of the cleaning efforts.
The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has reported that 28,069 small and large vehicles, including loader rickshaws, pickup vans, and large collection trucks are engaged in the cleaning process every day. Their activity peaks during the morning hours, which coincides with a time when the city’s air quality is already at its most fragile.
Real-time data from Punjab’s Air Quality Index (AQI) indicates that between 6am and 9am, the hours when these sanitation vehicles are most active, Lahore experiences a noticeable spike in air pollution. Throughout the current month, AQI levels during this time frame have consistently remained at hazardous levels.
On October 12, the AQI ranged between 180 and 185. It spiked significantly on October 14, reaching between 264 and 313. The following days saw similarly alarming levels: 237 to 323 on October 15, 277 to 339 on October 16, 279 to 324 on October 17, and 255 to 295 on October 18.
Khansa Khawar, Community Manager at Code for Pakistan and an environmental advocate, opined that while the use of vehicles for city cleaning appears necessary, their environmental impact cannot be ignored. “In trying to solve one problem, we often end up worsening another. Instead of purchasing new vehicles, emission control systems should be made mandatory in existing ones to reduce fuel emissions. This would not only lower pollution but also reduce traffic congestion,” claimed Khawar.
Environmental expert and member of the Air Quality Initiative, Maryam Shah, stated that emissions from sanitation vehicles were inevitable to some extent, but the government must take steps that align with on-ground realities. “Although zero-emission vehicles are the ideal solution, given current resources and limitations, practical alternatives should be prioritized,” said Shah.
Dr Saadia Khalid, another environmentalist, proposed that cities like Lahore should transition from petrol-powered rickshaws to electric rickshaws or pedal carts for waste collection in narrow streets and residential areas. “Since these vehicles don’t require high speeds, converting them to electric or manual models is both feasible and effective. Such a move could significantly reduce emissions,” said Dr Khalid.
Unfortunately, Lahore’s air quality has remained dangerously poor for several years, and multiple international agencies rank it among the most polluted cities in the world. Experts have stressed that cleanliness and air quality protection are not conflicting goals, rather, they are two sides of the same environmental policy. If the government fails to maintain this balance, the Suthra Punjab program may benefit the city’s land, but it will pose a serious threat to the air.
Ali Ijaz, Deputy Director of the Environment Protection Department in Lahore, admitted that such a large-scale sanitation campaign does contribute to pollution. “However, uncollected waste produces methane gas, which is even more dangerous than the emissions from vehicles. So far, 260,000 vehicles have undergone emission testing, and from October 20 onwards, a strict crackdown on smoke-emitting vehicles has been launched,” said Ijaz.