Punjab slaps new waste tax across the province

The Punjab government has introduced a new "waste tax" across all cities and towns in the region.

This decision was approved by the Standing Committee on Finance and Development of the Punjab Cabinet.

According to the official notification, the waste tax will apply to both rural and urban residents, as well as to small and large businesses throughout the province. The tax will be determined based on the size of residential properties and the scale of commercial operations.

For rural areas, the monthly waste tax will be Rs200 for houses between 5 and 10 marlas, and Rs400 for properties between 10 marlas and 1 kanal. Small businesses and shops in rural areas will be taxed Rs300, while medium-sized enterprises will pay Rs700. Larger businesses, factories, and petrol pumps will also be charged Rs700 per month.

Additionally, the notification states that residents of informal settlements (kachi abadis) will be subject to the new waste tax.

In Lahore, the waste tax rates for urban areas have been increased compared to rural areas. The new monthly waste tax rates for urban residences are as follows: Rs300 for homes up to 5 marla (125 sq m), Rs500 for homes between 5 and 10 marla (125-250 sq m), Rs2,000 for homes between 10 marla and 1 kanal (250-500 sq m), and Rs5,000 for homes larger than 1 kanal (500 sq m).