LAHORE: The Punjab government has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI)-based monitoring system to oversee cleanliness operations across the province under its flagship Suthra Punjab programme, officials said on Tuesday.
The initiative, launched under the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, seeks to digitise waste management and improve transparency and efficiency in sanitation services in both urban and rural areas. Authorities described it as a major technological shift in the province’s cleanliness infrastructure.
Officials said the new system would enable real-time monitoring of sanitation activities across Punjab, bringing more than 40,000 sanitation vehicles and over 176,000 workers under digital oversight. AI-equipped motorbikes fitted with cameras will also be deployed to identify garbage hotspots and transmit live field data to a central control system.
The government said the initiative aims to eliminate inefficiencies in waste collection and ensure uniform sanitation standards in cities and villages alike. Digital mapping, an AI-based complaint mechanism, and a centralised helpline have also been introduced as part of the programme.
Chairing a high-level meeting on sanitation reforms, the chief minister directed authorities to take strict action against absentee and “ghost” employees, while stressing that administrative decisions would be made solely on merit without political interference. She also ordered stricter oversight of employee attendance and performance indicators.
“Every process must be documented, transparent and aligned with key performance indicators,” Ms Nawaz said, describing Suthra Punjab as more than a cleanliness campaign and calling it a “social transformation”. She added that villages should enjoy the same sanitation standards as urban centres, citing countries such as Japan and Singapore as examples of effective cleanliness management.
The chief minister also criticised recent protests in which sanitation workers reportedly dumped garbage on roads over salary-related grievances, saying while peaceful protest was a right, such actions would not be tolerated.
According to officials, the AI-driven system is expected to improve service delivery, reduce corruption and enhance transparency in Punjab’s sanitation network through continuous monitoring and digital documentation.
