DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a proposal to convert municipal waste into fuel under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework, aiming to promote sustainable waste management and reduce reliance on imported coal.
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Tuesday directed authorities to float an unsolicited proposal submitted by a private company in the market to ensure transparency and a competitive bidding process, according to an official statement.
Chairing a meeting of the Public-Private Partnership Committee, the chief minister said the waste-to-energy initiative would lay the foundation for a modern and sustainable waste management system in Peshawar.
Provincial Minister for Finance Muzammil Aslam, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, administrative secretaries of relevant departments and other members of the PPP Committee attended the meeting via video link.
Mr Afridi noted that the project would help cut dependence on imported coal used in the cement industry, conserve foreign exchange, and generate employment opportunities. “This initiative will not only benefit the environment but also contribute positively to the economy,” he said, adding that further gains could be achieved through carbon credits and industrial utilisation.
Officials briefing the meeting said that Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) produced from municipal waste would be used as an alternative to coal in cement plants.
Under the project, material recovery and processing facilities, along with other required infrastructure, will be established at the Shamshatoo landfill site in Peshawar.
The participants were informed that the initiative would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote environmentally friendly waste management practices, and curb the accumulation of waste at landfill sites, leading to overall environmental improvement.
The meeting was also told that, following its successful implementation in Peshawar, the project would be expanded to other divisional headquarters across the province.
