Waste-to-Energy Project to Mark a Major Breakthrough in Punjab’s Energy Ecosystem: Minister– Chairs high-level meeting on 50MW Waste-to-Energy project

By Muhammad Shahzad – Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Energy Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar presided over a high-level meeting to review progress on the 50 MW Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Project. Managing Director, Punjab Power Development Board (PPDB), Saniya Awais, delivered a detailed briefing covering the project’s preparation status, technical components, and upcoming milestones. Secretary Energy Dr. Farrukh Naveed, Additional Secretary Majid Iqbal, and senior officials from relevant departments also attended the session.

During the briefing, MD PPDB informed the forum that the Waste-to-Energy project is based on advanced international technologies that convert municipal solid waste into electricity through scientific and environmentally responsible mechanisms. With over 2,800 WtE plants operating globally, Lahore’s project will become Pakistan’s first large-scale Waste-to-Energy model—setting a new benchmark for modern waste management and clean power generation.

She further elaborated that the PPDB has completed all preparatory work under the Punjab Power Generation Policy 2009, and the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has formally committed to supplying 3,000 tonnes of mixed municipal waste per day. The Sundar Industrial Estate has been designated as the official power purchaser for the project.

According to the briefing, the proposed power plant will be established near Lakhodair / 33 KM Multan Road with an investment exceeding USD 175 million from the private sector, under a 25-year concession period. Under this framework, PIEDMC will act as the power off-taker, LWMC will provide the fuel supply, and the Punjab Grid Company will deliver transmission services. Pre-qualification of both local and global investors has been completed, and bids will be invited from the shortlisted sponsors following approval of the project’s security package.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the project will significantly improve urban cleanliness in Lahore while supplying the industrial sector with cost-effective electricity at rates lower than the national grid. He announced that after the successful rollout of this model, similar Waste-to-Energy initiatives would be launched in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi, and other major cities across Punjab.

The Energy Minister emphasized that the project marks a major milestone in transforming Punjab’s energy landscape and aligns with the government’s broader vision of a waste-free, clean, and sustainable future for the province. He directed all relevant departments to expedite technical finalization, accelerate overall progress, and move swiftly toward the bidding phase.