PM Approves Task Force for Waste-to-Energy Policy
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the formation of a high-level task force to prepare Pakistan’s national policy for waste-to-energy projects, a move aimed at improving waste management while promoting alternative energy generation. The decision was reported on Thursday as the government seeks new ways to link environmental reform with energy-sector planning.
The task force has been assigned the job of reviewing the existing framework for waste-to-energy initiatives and preparing a comprehensive national policy. Officials said the proposed policy will include a clear strategy, an institutional mechanism and an implementation roadmap to guide future projects across the country.
According to the government, the policy will focus on encouraging private-sector participation and facilitating investment in waste-to-energy projects. The initiative is expected to examine how municipal waste can be used more effectively as a resource for power generation instead of remaining a burden on cities and local governments.
Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Leghari will serve as convener of the task force. The body will also include Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, federal secretaries for climate change and inter-provincial coordination, and senior provincial officials from across Pakistan.
Representatives from the private sector have also been included in the task force, reflecting the government’s view that private investment and technical expertise will be essential for making waste-to-energy projects commercially viable. Officials said the body will study international best practices and adapt them to Pakistan’s local conditions.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the task force will identify legal, regulatory, financial and operational barriers that have slowed progress in the sector. Its terms of reference include proposing legislation, regulatory reforms and coordination mechanisms needed to support the development of waste-to-energy projects.
Pakistan’s major cities face growing solid-waste challenges, with municipal authorities often struggling to collect, process and dispose of waste efficiently. Poor waste handling contributes to pollution, public health risks, urban flooding and environmental degradation, making the search for integrated solutions increasingly urgent.
Waste-to-energy projects could help Pakistan address two problems at once: reducing pressure on landfill sites and supporting alternative energy generation. However, experts generally caution that such projects require strong regulation, careful environmental safeguards, proper waste segregation and transparent tariff or investment structures.
For Pakistan, the task force could become an important step toward modernising urban management and linking climate policy with energy planning. The next phase will depend on how quickly the committee finalises practical recommendations and whether the government can convert the policy framework into bankable projects with provincial and municipal support.