PSLM: Municipal Garbage Collection Services Decline Across Pakistan

The Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) Survey 2024-2025 has revealed that only 11 percent of households nationwide currently have their garbage collected by municipalities. This shows a significant decline from 20 percent in 2018–19, indicating a worsening trend in municipal waste collection services across the country.

These figures are part of the PSLM provincial level survey which is called Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES). Conducted by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, this survey gathers information on income and consumption as well as on social indicators.

According to Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, for cities to be relatively clean, at least 75 percent of these quantities should be collected.

How do provinces fare in municipal garbage collection?

For garbage collection by municipal services, Sindh leads among provinces, with 16 percent of households receiving this service. However, this is still a decline from 28 percent recorded in the 2018–19 PSLM survey.

It is followed by Punjab, where 12 percent of households have access to this facility, but shows a downfall from 20 percent in the previous survey.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, only six percent of households have access to municipal garbage collection, compared to 12 percent in 2018–19. Balochistan records the lowest coverage, with just one percent of households receiving municipal garbage collection services. This is a steep drop from seven percent in 2018–19.

The decline in municipal garbage collection also appears to be linked with the presence of local governments. Historical PSLM data indicates an increase in the expanse of municipal garbage collection services in the years when there were elected local governments functional in the provinces.

Why is garbage collection important?

Article 9A of the Pakistani Constitution guarantees the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. This provision was added to the Constitution through the 26th Amendment. Moreover, Pakistan is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for all. Effective waste collection and safe disposal are essential components of sanitation infrastructure and environmental sustainability under this goal.