Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI)-based monitoring for sanitation across the province, launching a “smart cleanliness” drive under the Suthra Punjab programme.
Chairing a meeting here on Tuesday, the chief minister ordered strict action against ghost employees, absentee staff, and workers marking attendance without performing duties. The meeting reviewed system improvements, AI-based operations, financial matters, and progress on waste-to-value projects.
Officials informed that around 40,000 vehicles and 176,000 sanitation workers would be brought under AI monitoring. The chief minister also directed authorities to ramp up preparations ahead of Eid al-Adha by increasing waste collection centres across Punjab.
Under the initiative, AI-equipped motorbikes fitted with automated cameras will be deployed to identify garbage through live image capturing and real-time field visibility, enabling continuous oversight. Authorities are also considering on-the-spot fines for negligence and illegal dumping.
The briefing highlighted the introduction of digital mapping, a beat system, and an AI-based complaint cell for the first time under the Suthra Punjab programme. Around 70 per cent of sanitation staff have undergone physical verification, expected to reach 100 per cent by next week.
The chief minister directed that field monitoring be conducted through AI, while the Suthra Punjab helpline (1139) has been centralised for round-the-clock responsiveness. More than 10,365 locations have been cleared through deep cleaning, while 2,029 additional attendance points have been established.
A new mobile application has also been introduced for attendance, with monitoring officers assigned to each union council for verification. Daily meetings of managing directors have been made mandatory, and salaries of employees found absent after marking attendance will be deducted.
She further made it mandatory for sanitation staff to wear uniforms and maintain vehicle cleanliness. Performance indicators for door-to-door cleaning have been linked with physical verification, while container clearance now requires photographic evidence.
A uniform AI-based end-to-end digital monitoring system is being rolled out across both urban and rural areas, with directions issued for early completion of the waste-to-value project.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister described Suthra Punjab as “closest to her heart,” saying cleanliness reflects collective societal behaviour. “This is not merely a cleanliness project but a social transformation. Every process must be documented, transparent and aligned with KPIs,” she said, adding that the initiative represents a trust between the government and the public.
She emphasised immediate complaint resolution and a foolproof monitoring system, stressing that villages must match cities in cleanliness standards.
Calling sanitation workers “heroes,” the chief minister urged citizens to respect them and ensure timely payment of wages, while warning that corruption, political interference, and undocumented work would not be tolerated.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation that the Suthra Punjab programme, now a large-scale initiative involving significant financial resources, advanced technology, and a vast workforce, must deliver 100 per cent results.