CDA extended RWMC’s use of the Losar landfill and renewed waste transport contracts, while directing work on a scientifically managed landfill for Islamabad.
Key Takeaways
- CDA extended its agreement with RWMC to keep using the Losar landfill site for solid waste disposal.
- The CDA Board renewed the contract for transporting waste from Islamabad’s transfer station to Losar.
- Chairman Sohail Ashraf directed work on a scientifically managed landfill to meet Islamabad’s growing needs.
- Environmental protection and sustainability were emphasized for any new landfill development.
- The Board also approved extra land in H-11/1 to expand the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Center.
What The CDA Board Approved In Its 2026 Meeting
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has extended its agreement with the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) for the continued use of the Losar landfill site, ensuring that the existing disposal route remains available for solid waste. The decision was taken during the fourth CDA Board meeting of 2026, held at CDA Headquarters and chaired by Sohail Ashraf, Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad.
The extension was a key agenda item because Losar remains a central outlet for Islamabad’s waste disposal. By renewing the arrangement, CDA is prioritizing operational continuity, preventing disruption to the daily collection and dumping chain that keeps the capital’s sanitation system running and reduces the risk of overflow in residential sectors.
The meeting also covered other agenda items, showing how essential services like sanitation and healthcare infrastructure are being handled through the Board’s policy and planning process. For citizens, these decisions translate into whether the city stays clean, safe, and operational during peak waste generation periods.
Why The Losar Extension Matters For Day-To-Day Waste Operations
The agreement allows RWMC to continue utilizing Losar for dumping, which is essential because landfill access is a daily operational requirement. If a landfill option is restricted or interrupted, waste piles up quickly at collection points, transfer stations, and neighbourhood bins, creating immediate hygiene risks and attracting pests, odour, and public complaints.
CDA also approved an extension of the contract for transportation and collection of solid waste from Islamabad’s Waste Transfer Station to the Losar dumping site. This renewal matters because the transfer station is a key link in the logistics chain: waste must move smoothly from local collection routes to bulk transport, and then onward to final disposal without bottlenecks that can trigger backups across sectors.
In simple terms, the Board’s approvals keep the current waste pipeline functional. They also buy time for CDA to work on longer-term solutions, because relying on one disposal outlet for a growing city is rarely sustainable and can become costlier if hauling distances or operational constraints increase.
A Push For A Scientifically Managed Landfill In Islamabad
Chairman Sohail Ashraf stressed the need to develop a scientifically managed landfill site specifically for Islamabad, and directed that work begin on establishing such a facility. This is notable because it signals recognition that extensions and transport contracts cannot substitute for modern disposal infrastructure designed around the capital’s long-term waste volumes and environmental sensitivities.
A scientifically managed landfill typically means stronger environmental controls, including engineered lining systems, leachate collection, methane management, and structured cell development rather than uncontrolled dumping. These measures reduce groundwater contamination risk, limit air pollution, and improve monitoring and compliance, while also enabling better data on how much waste the city generates each day.
Ashraf also emphasized environmental protection and sustainability as priorities in future waste strategies. For residents, the benchmark will be whether Islamabad moves beyond short-term arrangements and invests in a landfill model that reduces health risks while supporting cleaner urban growth in nearby communities.
Other Decisions: Medical Expansion And Key Participation
Beyond waste management, the CDA Board approved the allotment of additional land in H-11/1 for expanding the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Center. The expansion is intended to meet rising demand for medical facilities and research infrastructure as population pressures increase and Islamabad’s health system faces higher patient loads.
The meeting included the participation of several Board members and officials, including Esfandyar Baloch, Zaman Wattoo, Muhammad Umair, Syed Nafasat Raza, and Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali, Vice Chancellor of Punjab University. Their presence reflects the cross-sector nature of CDA’s agenda, where decisions often combine municipal services, health infrastructure, and long-term urban planning.
Taken together, the approvals indicate a focus on essential services: keeping waste management stable today while planning for better disposal capacity, and expanding healthcare infrastructure to support Islamabad’s future needs. The next test will be implementation timelines, budgeting, and whether the planned landfill work moves from direction to on-ground execution.
