KEY POINTS
- BBC hails Pakistan’s Punjab waste model as global blueprint.
- Birmingham volunteers adopt tactics after digital workshop.
- Model showcased at COP-30, boosting international ties.
- Generates Rs300bn annually via waste-to-value projects.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s flagship cleanliness drive, ‘Suthra Punjab’, has evolved from a provincial initiative into an internationally recognized model for urban waste management, now directly inspiring community action in the United Kingdom.
The programme, which has previously garnered coverage from global giants like Forbes and Bloomberg, has received a significant endorsement from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The broadcaster described it as a “practical and replicable model,” a recognition that has now translated into a tangible transcontinental collaboration.
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Birmingham Seeks Guidance from Punjab
A local volunteer group in the UK’s second-largest city, Birmingham, proactively reached out to waste management experts in Punjab.
They sought solutions to persistent local challenges, including overflowing bins and service disruptions exacerbated by repeated strikes.
The volunteers reportedly acknowledged that despite living in a developed Western city, community engagement and innovative approaches to maintaining cleanliness had been lacking. Their exposure to the Suthra Punjab model provided a new perspective on civic responsibility and service delivery, according to a BBC report.
COP-30: The Genesis of a Global Exchange
The seeds for this international knowledge transfer were sown at the Pakistan Pavilion during the COP-30 climate conference in Brazil.
The Suthra Punjab initiative was presented on this global stage, attracting international attention and enabling key connections.
It was through this platform that contacts were established, leading to a direct digital collaboration between Punjab’s experts and Birmingham’s community activists.
Digital Workshop Charts Path for UK Volunteers
Following the initial contact, Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) Chief Executive Officer Babar Sahib Din conducted a dedicated online session with the Birmingham volunteer group.
He provided comprehensive guidance on effective waste management practices, operational structures, and practical solutions tailored to address local sanitation issues.
This digital facilitation allowed volunteers to learn directly from Punjab’s on-ground experience, prompting them to reconsider traditional methods and embrace a more community-integrated approach.
Model “Worth Emulating Globally”
The BBC positioned “Suthra Punjab”, in English “Clean Punjab”, as more than a local success story. It characterized the initiative as a “modern and efficient system,” explicitly terming it a model worth emulating by cities worldwide. This acclaim underscores the programme’s design and implementation efficacy.
Economic Impact Highlighted by Bloomberg
In a separate assessment of the initiative’s broader value, Bloomberg has highlighted Suthra Punjab’s innovative ‘waste-to-value’ projects, calling them significant for sustainable development and the circular economy.
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According to Bloomberg’s analysis, the Suthra Punjab initiative contributes an estimated Rs300 billion annually to the provincial economy through environmentally friendly activities.
This figure underscores the programme’s growing and multifaceted impact, extending far beyond cleanliness into substantial economic and social benefits.
The international replication of aspects of Suthra Punjab, beginning in a major UK city, stands as a significant testament to the programme’s design and effectiveness.
It marks a notable instance of a Pakistani provincial government’s public service model not only receiving global praise but also serving as a practical blueprint for addressing universal urban challenges abroad.
