Garbage tax draws public backlash | The Express Tribune

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) has officially imposed a garbage tax on residents and traders, beginning the distribution of bills to homes, shops, and plazas across the city from Monday, October 13.

The company has issued bills ranging from Rs500 to Rs5,000, sparking confrontations between citizens, traders, and RWMC employees. In commercial areas, monthly garbage tax bills between Rs1,100 and Rs2,000 have been distributed, causing widespread outrage.

Traders affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have reportedly disappeared from marketplaces following backlash from shopkeepers, who have begun sending the bills to their leaders via WhatsApp and demanding explanations.

Citizens and traders have refused to pay the tax, claiming the city has become a “garbage market” due to poor sanitation.

They announced plans to hold a protest and sit-in outside the RWMC and the offices of the commissioner and deputy commissioner.

The company began implementing the tax across Rawalpindi on September 1, 2025, and started distributing bills in October for September dues.

Traders have been given a deadline of October 15 to pay via Easypaisa or JazzCash, with warnings of fines and legal action against defaulters starting October 20.

President of the Anjuman Tajiran Sabzi Mandi, Ghulam Qadir Mir, said traders already pay sanitation fees to WASA and sanitation workers who collect Rs200 monthly from each household and shop.

“We will not pay Rs1,100 to Rs2,000 more for garbage tax,” he said.

Chairman of the Citizen Action Committee, Malik Zaheer Awan, said they had been protesting for two months over poor sanitation but no improvements were made.

“Now, the garbage tax bomb has been dropped on citizens and traders. We will hold a strong protest – this so-called garbage tax is nothing but extortion and must be withdrawn,” he added.

Officials argued that permanent funding is necessary to sustain the waste management system. Punjab, with a population of 127.68 million, generates 57,500 million tons of waste daily, of which only 18,438 million tons are collected, leaving the rest to cause environmental pollution.

Funds from the tax will be used for garbage disposal, recycling, new machinery, staff salaries, and landfill sites. The government says more than 100,000 people have been provided employment under the program, and modern equipment worth billions has been purchased.

Despite government assurances, citizens have rejected the tax, demanding visible improvements in sanitation before being charged. They argue that poor waste collection, overflowing containers, and unattended garbage dumps continue to cause health hazards in several neighbourhoods.

MNA and District Coordination Development Committee Convener Engineer Qamar Islam said the tax was affordable for citizens and would bring the sanitation system in line with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision to match international standards.

He added that all waste produced in Rawalpindi would be lifted daily to create a healthier environment. Commissioner Amir Khattak and Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema are regularly briefing the chief minister on cleanliness issues, he said.