Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives hosted the 11th cohort session of the Green Zameen fellowship in Islamabad, bringing together parliamentarians, policymakers and industry experts to align policy and practice for a greener future in Pakistan. The session focused on practical measures to reduce energy consumption in buildings and promote sustainable housing at the local level.
Discussions led by Dr. Faiz Ahmad Chaudhry from NTDC and architect Muhammad Talha Saeed centered on integrated energy planning and demand side management as essential tools to stabilise supply and reduce waste. They also highlighted the transition to net zero homes, the use of sustainable construction materials, and the urgent need for stricter enforcement of NEECA building codes to improve overall energy performance.
Parliamentarians participating in the Green Zameen session called for mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments for all new buildings, enhanced professional training for architects on energy efficient design, and stronger coordination among federal and provincial agencies to ensure uniform implementation of standards. The exchanges reflected a clear push to translate technical recommendations into enforceable policy.
A concrete outcome of the meeting was an invitation from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s standing committee on Energy and Power for CPDI to conduct orientation sessions, a step that moves dialogue toward on-the-ground action. The session concluded with a shared commitment to build climate smart communities and champion green initiatives from the grassroots upward, reinforcing the Green Zameen aim of connecting policy to practice across Pakistan.
