Pakistan sets up task force for National Waste-to-Energy policy push

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the formation of a high-level task force to draft a national policy on waste-to-energy projects, aiming to strengthen waste management systems and expand alternative energy generation.

The task force will be responsible for reviewing the existing policy landscape and preparing a comprehensive framework that includes strategy, institutional design, and an implementation roadmap, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

A key focus of the proposed policy is to encourage private sector investment and facilitate broader participation in waste-to-energy development across the country.

Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Leghari has been appointed convener of the task force.

The group will also include Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik and Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, alongside federal secretaries from climate change and inter-provincial coordination divisions, as well as provincial and regional officials.

Representatives from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will participate, along with members from the private sector.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the task force will examine international best practices in waste-to-energy systems and identify legal, regulatory, financial, and operational bottlenecks slowing sector development in Pakistan.

It has been mandated to propose legislative and regulatory reforms to support project development and address implementation challenges.

The body will also recommend measures to improve coordination among stakeholders and ensure effective execution of waste-to-energy initiatives nationwide.