E-challans for littering in Lahore markets

LAHORE: The Suthra Punjab Authority (SPA) on Tuesday launched an e-challan system to penalise littering at public places in Lahore, whereas burning tyres and waste will be dealt very strictly with fines up to Rs500,000 with imprisonment.

“It is a pilot project limited to the Lahore metropolitan city’s 200 commercial markets and major roads, including The Mall, Jail Road and Ferozepur Road. Initially, the 25 teams have started the e-challan service from Tuesday by issuing warnings to those involved in littering,” Lahore Suthra Punjab Authority CEO Shehryar Arif Khan said while talking to Dawn.

“The total enforcement staff deputed for the e-challan system consists of as many as 75 people, including 50 divided in two field and supervising teams,” he added.

According to him, the month of September would be treated as a grace period for the violators who would be formally fined with effect from October 1 onwards. To a question, he said that the e-challan system in residential areas was currently not under consideration as the authority’s teams would first educate the people.

“I cannot say until when we will start penalising the people littering in residential areas,” he added.

He said that while issuing warnings in commercial areas and model roads, the teams, during the grace period, would also tell them that they committed a crime which shouldn’t be repeated.

Meanwhile, the e-challan system was formally launched at a ceremony at Liberty Chowk attended by Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Ali Ejaz and Shehryar Arif Khan.

Briefing the media, the officials said that anti-littering squads had been deployed across the city’s roads, markets and commercial centres to monitor violations and raise public awareness about cleanliness laws.

Under the new system, warnings and awareness messages were being issued from Tuesday and violators would be issued warning e-challans starting Sept 1, 2026, without any fines.

Officials said the initial focus would be on educating citizens rather than immediately imposing penalties. However, repeated violations of cleanliness regulations would result in legal action and fines.

According to the officials, people found throwing or burning waste on roads would face heavy fines under the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025 and the Suthra Punjab Authority Act, 2026. A fine ranging from Rs1,000 to Rs10,000 would be imposed for littering in public places, while failure to maintain cleanliness outside a house, shop or factory could attract a fine of Rs1,000 to Rs50,000.

Shops and shopping malls found using prohibited plastic bags will be fined between Rs1,000 and Rs2,000 respectively. The officials said that burning waste could result in a fine ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs500,000 and imprisonment for up to two years.

Burning tyres, whether by an industrial unit or an individual, may attract a fine of up to Rs500,000 and imprisonment for up to seven years. All fines would have to be paid through banking or digital channels with officials barred from accepting cash payments.

“The anti-littering squads have been deployed with the objective of making Lahore a waste-free city. The squads will also educate citizens about the safe disposal and transfer of waste and inform them about the applicable cleanliness laws,” Mr Shehryar said.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2026