The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has emerged as a pioneer in both cleanliness arrangements and digital transformation, ushering in a new era of efficient operations, besides offering additional benefits like insurance, technical training, bonus and driving licences to its employees, considering them real heroes.
Embarking on a digitalization journey, spearheaded by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Babar Sahib Din, the LWMC has implemented pivotal measures such as AI-optimised routes, waste segregation through a three-bin system, digital field operation monitoring, vehicle tracking, and a state-of-the-art centralised control room. This transformational approach is in partnership with the Centre for Urban Information, Technology and Policy at the LUMS University.
In an interview, LWMC Chief Executive Officer Babar Sahib Din said that in initial phase, involving artificial intelligence (AI) driven route optimisation in Gulberg Town, yielded remarkable results, reducing vehicle count and distance travelled, leading to significant fuel savings. Additionally, through live monitoring system, the company boosted field staff attendance to 82-90 per cent, exposed around 1,000 ghost employees, and enhanced operational integrity. The use of artificial intelligence also helped save about 1.5 to 2 lakh litres of fuel per month, he said and added that the company was going to introduce a state-of-the-art android application Digitization of TCPs in Lahore for registration of all temporary collection points (TCPs) and registration of all illegal dumping vehicles. This application will help in data analysis, monitoring of secondary waste collection vehicles, which will eventually improve the service delivery. The LWMC is on its way to revamp the revenue streams by setting up the target of Rs 1 billion against current collection of Rs 40 million annually from 94,000 units. The department has mobilised its business development wing and increased the existing 94,000 units to 550,000 units across the city including commercial shops, public private offices, banks, workshops, fuel stations.
The LWMC CEO said that workers were companys real heroes, who sacrifice their Eid and festivals for citizens. They are performing the most difficult task of removing the waste of others even in extreme weather conditions. Therefore, their health and safety was a priority and the department had taken the initiative to provide the LWMC workers and their families with health insurance cover. In this regard, the CEO said the LWMC had issued more than 8,000 health insurance cards to the employees through which they could get their health benefits covered at social security hospitals or dispensaries.
The LWMC and National Highway and Motorway Police had also taken a special step for technical training and licensing of drivers of operational vehicles. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed, more than 3,000 LWMC drivers would be assisted in technical training and licensing. The LWMC drivers and other staff would be eligible for an international driving licence on completion of technical training. Further, the Education Wing of Motorway Police will provide awareness about road safety and rules. Babar Sahib Din said that an MoU had been signed with the Punjab Skills Development Fund to impart modern skills to children of the LWMC workers. The LWMC also ensures allocation of regular bonus awards against special duties including Eid, Christmas, Easter, PSL duties, etc. Another historic achievement, which has been made, is the MoU signing between the LWMC and Lahore Qalandars for appreciating the efforts of companys real heroes during the PSL matches and to work jointly in raising awareness among masses regarding cleanliness.
Our dedicated force of more than 10,000 sanitary workers; well-equipped with gadgets and backed by modern machinery is rendering their untiring services to transform Lahore, once known as city of gardens, into world’s one of the cleanest places. The belief that cleanliness is the half faith must be completed by taking care of neat environment not only inside our home but in the nook and cranny of the beloved city, he added.
