The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives hosted the ninth session of the Green Zameen Fellowship Program in Peshawar, bringing together parliamentarians, energy experts and civil society to discuss how Pakistan’s built environment can influence the country’s energy transition. Speakers highlighted the role of efficient building design, sustainable materials and stronger local governance in reducing energy demand and supporting a just, climate-resilient transition.
The session began with Umer Farooq, a power systems expert at the LUMS Energy Institute, who explained how inefficient building designs are contributing to Pakistan’s rising electricity demand. He argued that demand-side management and smarter energy planning are essential to control peak loads and prevent long-term economic pressure on the power system.
Hafiz Talha Saeed, a sustainable building architect also affiliated with the LUMS Energy Institute, focused on the housing sector. He urged adoption of net-zero homes, use of sustainable construction materials and alignment with NEECA building codes, noting that affordable retrofitting can help households lower costs while reducing energy waste.
Participants identified a clear need for stronger provincial and municipal leadership to enforce building codes, finance green construction and advance climate-smart urban planning. Improving local governance, they said, is key to translating technical solutions into tangible reductions in energy demand.
The session included active participation from elected officials, with 12 parliamentarians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and four from the Punjab Assembly committing to raise energy and climate issues in their assemblies and advocate for stronger policy enforcement.
Organizers said the Green Zameen Fellowship Program will continue equipping leaders across Pakistan with the knowledge and networks needed to promote a just and climate-resilient energy transition.
