ISLAMABAD, Sept 17, 2026: Pakistan’s Parliament has received the inaugural Green Mace Award at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference being held in Cape Town, South Africa, in recognition of the National Assembly’s environment-friendly initiatives.
According to a press release issued by the National Assembly Secretariat’s Directorate General of Media, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq received the award on behalf of the Parliament of Pakistan during the main programme of the conference.
The award recognises the National Assembly’s Green Parliament Initiative, including its status as the world’s first 100 per cent solar-powered Parliament, its move towards a paperless parliamentary system and the rainwater harvesting project currently under development at Parliament House.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq expressed gratitude over the recognition and said receiving the inaugural Green Mace Award as Speaker of the National Assembly was a matter of great honour.
He said the award was not merely an accolade but a recognition of Parliament’s commitment to ensuring a cleaner and better environment for future generations. He added that the journey towards becoming a Green Parliament had been undertaken not for recognition but out of a sense of responsibility towards the people, children and future generations who would inherit the Parliament.
The National Assembly has transitioned to 100 per cent solar energy, becoming the world’s first Parliament to operate entirely on solar power. It has also advanced towards a paperless working environment through the use of electronic tablets for parliamentary proceedings, reducing reliance on printed documents and promoting digital parliamentary practices.
The ongoing rainwater harvesting project at Parliament House is another key component of the National Assembly’s environment-friendly measures, aimed at conserving and efficiently utilising water resources.
Participants of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference appreciated Pakistan’s Green Parliament Initiative and its environmentally responsible measures, describing the National Assembly’s experience as a model for Commonwealth parliaments seeking to advance sustainable and environment-friendly parliamentary practices.
