LAHORE (Dunya News) - The Punjab government's flagship Suthra Punjab Project, launched to modernize waste management and improve sanitation across the province, is facing growing allegations of financial irregularities, delayed salaries, and unfair wage deductions affecting thousands of sanitation workers.
The project was officially launched on December 3, 2024, with an initial allocation of Rs120 billion. The budget was later increased to Rs150 billion for 2025–26 and Rs170 billion for 2026–27. According to the Punjab government, the funds are intended to upgrade waste management systems, improve garbage collection in urban and rural areas, cover fuel and maintenance costs for sanitation vehicles, and ensure timely payment of workers' salaries.
However, reports from several districts suggest that many workers are not receiving their full wages despite official commitments.
Tragic Death Highlights Workers' Grievances
On June 7, 2026, a former sanitation worker, Zeeshan, allegedly set himself on fire at the office of Imperial Waste Management Company in Gujranwala after reportedly becoming frustrated over repeated salary deductions and the loss of his job. He suffered severe burns and died after spending nearly three weeks in hospital.
According to his family, Zeeshan's monthly salary was reduced by Rs21,000, leaving him with only Rs19,000. They claimed he was dismissed after demanding his full salary, leaving him with no option but to take the extreme step.
Workers Report Salary Deductions and Delays
Workers from multiple districts, including Multan, Gujrat, Bahawalpur, Mandi Bahauddin, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Okara, Pakpattan, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Sargodha, and Lahore, have complained about delayed salaries, unpaid overtime, denial of bonuses, and arbitrary wage deductions.
Despite a provincial notification requiring contractors to pay at least the government-mandated minimum wage, many employees allege they receive significantly less.
Workers also claim deductions are made in the name of social security, although several contracting companies are reportedly not registered with the Social Security Department. Additional deductions are allegedly made for weekly holidays, alleged poor performance, or late attendance, leaving many employees with less than half of their official salaries.
Under the current system, the government pays contractors, who then distribute salaries to workers, a process critics say lacks transparency and accountability.
In Multan alone, workers claim they have gone three months without salaries. According to the city's Waste Management Company CEO, salaries of 1,855 permanent employees are monitored directly by the company, while payments for 11,780 contractual workers remain the responsibility of private contractors.
Province-Wide Protests
Sanitation workers have staged protests across Punjab over unpaid wages and salary deductions.
Demonstrations have been reported in Pakpattan, Haveli Lakha, Okara, Faisalabad, Dijkot, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Lahore, and several other cities. On July 1, workers across the province protested against delayed salaries and the non-payment of an Eid bonus announced earlier.
Anti-Corruption Probe Uncovers Alleged Fraud
In May 2026, the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment registered a case alleging Rs1 billion in financial embezzlement linked to the Suthra Punjab Project in Faisalabad and Tandlianwala.
According to the FIR, the contractor Cares Consortium allegedly manipulated digital records between November 2024 and April 2026 by entering fake data, creating ghost employees, and reporting nonexistent waste collection sites to claim additional government funds.
Investigators revealed that:
633 ghost employees were listed to receive salaries.
Records showed 2,317 waste containers, while only 1,717 were physically found.
The company claimed to have built 118 waste enclosures, but only 33 were verified.
Vehicle routes and mileage records were allegedly manipulated to secure inflated payments.
Officials say the company is one of nearly 140 private contractors working under the Suthra Punjab Project through a public-private partnership model.
Transparency Under Scrutiny
The Suthra Punjab Project was launched to provide cleaner cities and create employment opportunities across the province. However, allegations of corruption, lack of transparency in the contracting system, delayed wages, and worker exploitation have raised serious questions about the project's implementation.
Observers argue that unless the Punjab government strengthens oversight, ensures financial transparency, and protects workers' rights, public confidence in the multi-billion-rupee sanitation initiative could continue to erode, while similar tragedies and labour disputes may persist.