In a glaring example of administrative neglect, a fleet of brand-new solid-waste collection vehicles, procured at high cost for the Rawalpindi Division, has been left to decay in the open for months. The vehicles, part of the Punjab Chief Minister's flagship Suthra Punjab (Clean Punjab) Programme, are now deteriorating, with parts being stolen and garbage being dumped inside them by locals.
Vehicles Left Unprotected and Unused
Between 25 to 30 newly procured and highly expensive vehicles have been sitting idle for the past four months behind the District Courts Facilitation Centre and the District Council Hall in Rawalpindi. Parked without any protective covering, they have been exposed to intense sunlight, rain, and vandalism. No cleaning or maintenance has been performed on them since they were stationed there.
The neglected fleet includes tractors, trolleys, small Mazda trucks, and Suzuki pickup-style sanitation vehicles, all painted green and prominently displaying photographs of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz alongside the Suthra Punjab slogan. Instead of serving their purpose, they have become makeshift dumpsters. Lawyers and staff from nearby government offices have reportedly been throwing garbage, leftover food, fruit waste, and peanut shells into them.
Deterioration and Theft Amid Official Inaction
Due to this continuous neglect, the vehicles show clear signs of rust and corrosion, accelerated by exposure to rainwater and decomposing waste. More alarmingly, parts are being systematically stolen. Sources indicate that new tyres have been removed from several vehicles and replaced with worn-out ones. Batteries from multiple units have also been stolen.
The area becomes deserted after 5 PM, creating an ideal environment for thieves. There are allegations that the thefts involve not only outsiders but also some government employees. These vehicles were meant for the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and were to be distributed by the district administration to sanitation companies across all tehsils of the district.
Ironic Shortage Amidst New Fleet Abandonment
The situation is deeply ironic because the waste management system in Rawalpindi is currently struggling with a defective fleet. Most vehicles currently used to transport waste to the central dumping ground—nearly 100 kilometres away—are unserviceable. These old vehicles often leak foul, decomposed waste and contaminated water during transit.
The newly purchased vehicles could have immediately replaced this defective fleet, improving sanitation services. With the onset of Rawalpindi's winter rainy season, concerns are intensifying that the abandoned vehicles will deteriorate even more rapidly if no action is taken.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the Deputy Commissioner's Office stated that all vehicles were received under the Suthra Punjab project and would be handed over as soon as any sanitation company formally requests them. This statement raises questions about the procurement and distribution planning, leaving the public to wonder why the vehicles were not allocated proactively to address the existing crisis in waste transportation.
