The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approved a major overhaul of waste collection and disposal in rural Islamabad, covering 65 union councils across Zones IV and V.

The decision follows the recent Rawalpindi floods, where intense rainfall triggered severe urban flooding, damaged infrastructure and caused loss of life, renewing concerns about drainage and waste management in the twin cities.

Under the new plan, the CDA will handle around 342 tonnes of waste each day with a workforce of 1,610 employees and 103 types of cleaning and waste-handling machinery.

Door-to-door garbage collection will be introduced in Bani Gala, Ghouri Town, Lehtrar and other rural areas. Mini tippers and hand carts will be deployed where narrow roads make conventional waste vehicles difficult to operate.

The system will also use GPS tracking and route optimisation to monitor waste collection and disposal. A central command and control centre will oversee operations, while digital attendance, field deployment records, facial monitoring and the Safe City system will be used to track staff and improve supervision.

Residents will also be able to report sanitation complaints, with the CDA planning measures to ensure quicker responses.

The new system is being developed with support from a Turkish waste management company.

CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf said every part of Islamabad would be covered under the authority’s cleanliness drive. Member Environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi will supervise implementation of the plan.