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KARACHI: For transforming “Pakistan Green Buildings” initiative into a reality and making it a big national achievement, the participating experts at Pakistan Green Building Conference-2025, held here on Thursday, recommended very coordinated and long-term efforts and sustained partnership of all major stakeholders. Federal and provincial governments, their development agencies, developers with ABAD’s led role, architects , engineers, financers, utility agencies and strong public support and inclusiveness through awareness campaigns will have to play their due roles on the lines of emerging challenges to the country; climate change and high rate of population growth are the very alarming. The enforcement should be made at grass level by incentivizing the public. The buildings are the major consumers of energy , which need to be aligned to international standards as energy savers and contributing in upgradation of climate—outside and inside, that is vital for a healthy nation. A panel discussion was held on “ Policy, Regulation & Green Building Reforms.” The panelists were Director General of Sindh Building Control Authority, Muzzamil Hussain Halepoto, Dr Sardar Mohazzim , Managing Director MECCA, Muhammad Azeem Khoso , Director Environment and Climate Change, Shehnaz Arshad, Sr. Urban Specialist Director General, SBCA, Muzamil Halepoto stressed on revising the building by-laws to promote green construction and align the Authority’s functions with sustainable development goals. He informed the conference that several administrative reforms have been introduced within the Authority, and their impact will be visible soon. SBCA currently has 1,381 employees across the province. Even if all staff are assigned to monitor illegal constructions, a new building could be raised before they return. This shows our capacity challenges, which we are addressing, he argued. Halepoto said the digital transformation and human resource strengthening are among his top priorities. “We can no longer manage systems manually. Digitalization will bring transparency and efficiency.” He said SBCA regulates four categories of buildings, and once all processes are fully digitized, significant improvements will be achieved across the board. “Mindset shift and legal reforms essential for eco-friendly urban development,” he said. During his brief interaction with media after panel discussion, DG, SBCA spoke of the success of the Single Window Facility; describing it as a model initiative already operational. “Anyone can apply online, and approvals are issued within 15 days. The success rate of this system is 99 percent,” he claimed. SBCA’s Director General said that several issues in the construction industry have developed over decades and now overlap, creating systemic challenges. “The most critical factor in the construction industry is cost. Green buildings require proper planning, expert input, and higher investment. However, most developers aim for quick profits — this mindset needs to change. It will take time, but the transformation will happen,” he said. He noted that countries worldwide have adopted sustainable development targets with timelines ranging from 10 to 20 years in sectors such as energy and health. “At this point, it is essential for us to amend our by-laws and regulatory framework to ensure a sustainable future.” Halepoto urged that adopting eco-friendly construction methods is crucial for ensuring public health and a sustainable urban environment. By using renewable energy, we can access cheaper power sources while protecting the environment. The DG said Sindh government intends to transform the Authority’s operational mechanism. “Our legal framework, regulations, and the SBCA Act have become outdated. Amendments are necessary. We have already prepared the draft framework, which will soon be presented to the Cabinet for approval, he said. Earlier, Dr Sarosh Lodhi, Senior Vice Chairman of Pakistan Engineering Council gave a detailed presentation on the council’s functions and about the new policy initiatives to enhance its role in regaling the housing and development sector. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
