Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif approves task force to convert solid waste into energy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a high-level task force to develop a comprehensive national policy for converting solid waste into energy across Pakistan.

The Prime Minister's Office announced the move as part of a broader push to reduce the country's dependence on imported fuel and address environmental challenges simultaneously.

What will Pakistan's waste-to-energy task force do?

The task force will review Pakistan's existing waste-to-energy framework, examine international best practices and identify legal, regulatory, financial and operational barriers holding back the sector. It will propose legislative reforms, facilitate private investment and prepare a clear implementation roadmap for waste-to-energy projects across the country.

Who will lead the waste-to-energy task force?

Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Leghari will serve as convener of the body. Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik and Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani will also be members.

Their combined portfolio spans energy, climate and fiscal policy, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of the initiative.

The task force will also include federal secretaries of Climate Change and Inter-Provincial Coordination. Secretaries of local government, climate change and energy departments from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir will participate alongside relevant private sector representatives.

How does solid waste-to-energy fit Pakistan's broader energy strategy?

The initiative is designed to encourage private sector participation in waste-to-energy projects while easing pressure on the national grid. Generating electricity from solid waste would reduce reliance on imported fuel, cutting both costs and emissions.

The task force's terms of reference include recommending practical measures for effective, nationwide implementation of such projects.