The Suthra Punjab Authority (SPA) has introduced an electronic ticketing system in Lahore to penalise littering, with fines for burning waste and tyres reaching up to Rs500,000 and, in some cases, imprisonment of up to seven years.

The e-challan system, launched on Tuesday, is initially being tested across 200 commercial markets and major roads in Lahore, including The Mall, Jail Road and Ferozepur Road, SPA Lahore chief executive Shehryar Arif Khan said.

The authority has deployed 75 enforcement personnel for the pilot, with 25 teams currently issuing warnings and the remaining staff assigned to field and supervisory duties, Khan said.

September will serve as a grace period, during which people violating cleanliness regulations will receive warnings and information about the relevant laws. Formal fines will begin from October 1, he said.

The authority is not currently planning to extend the e-challan system to residential areas, where its teams will initially focus on educating residents, Khan said.

The system was formally inaugurated at Liberty Chowk in a ceremony attended by Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) retired Capt Ali Ejaz and Khan.

Officials said anti-littering squads had been deployed on roads, in markets and at commercial centres to identify violations and raise awareness about cleanliness requirements.

Under the system, people found throwing waste in public places can face fines ranging from Rs1,000 to Rs10,000, while failing to maintain cleanliness outside a house, shop or factory can attract penalties of Rs1,000 to Rs50,000, officials said.

Shops using prohibited plastic bags can be fined between Rs1,000 and Rs2,000, respectively, while shopping malls face fines of up to Rs2,000, according to the officials.

Burning waste carries substantially heavier penalties under the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025 and the Suthra Punjab Authority Act, 2026.

Offenders can face fines of Rs100,000 to Rs500,000 and imprisonment of up to two years.

Burning tyres, whether by an industrial unit or an individual, can result in a fine of up to Rs500,000 and imprisonment of up to seven years.

All penalties must be paid through banking or digital channels, with officials prohibited from accepting cash.