Lahore to combat trash, rubbish burning using e-challan system

The Suthra Punjab Authority (SPA) has introduced an e-challan system in Lahore to curb littering in public places. The system will enforce punitive penalties for infractions, including rubbish and tyre burning.

Suthra Punjab Authority Lahore Chief Executive Officer Shehryar Arif Khan said the program was being launched as a trial project involving roughly 200 commercial marketplaces and important roadways of the metropolitan metropolis including The Mall, Jail Road and Ferozepur Road.

On Tuesday, 25 teams began using the e-challan system by giving warnings to anyone spotted littering, he added. The total number of enforcement workers is 75 staff members including 50 officials and two field and supervision teams.

“September will be a grace period during which violators will be educated and warned, not fined,” said Arif Khan. As of Oct. 1, the penalties would be official.

The CEO indicated that the authority is not at present considering extending the e-challan system to residential neighbourhoods, where teams would initially concentrate on educating residents about cleanliness needs.

“We’re still not able to say when any penalties for littering in residential areas will be introduced,” he said.

During the grace period, enforcement personnel patrolling business areas and along model roads would tell offenders that littering was an offence and should not be repeated, he said.

The system was formally launched at a ceremony at Liberty Chowk attended by Lahore Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Ali Ejaz and Mr Khan.

Anti-littering squads have been deployed on roadways, at marketplaces and at commercial centers across the city to uncover violations and create awareness about cleanliness requirements, authorities said.

To start with, citizens who flout cleanliness norms would be issued e-challans without any monetary fine but with a warning. Officials claimed the first phase was mostly educational and to teach households on how to dispose of rubbish properly.

But repeated violations will mean enforcement action and sanctions under the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025 and the Suthra Punjab Authority Act, 2026.

Littering in public places would attract a punishment of Rs1000 to Rs10000, while not maintaining cleanliness outside a residence, shop or factory may attract a penalty ranging from Rs1000 to Rs50000.

Shops and shopping malls using banned plastic bags could be penalised Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. Burning of rubbish meanwhile might attract fines of between Rs100,000 and Rs500,000 and jail terms of up to two years.

Penalties for tyre burning are even more severe. A person or industrial unit caught burning tyres can be fined up to Rs 500,000 and jailed for up to seven years.

To make the collecting of penalties transparent, all fines will be paid through banking or digital payment systems, and officials have been forbidden from accepting cash.