ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (APP): The Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan), in collaboration with a wide network of leading public and private sector institutions, will host the 2nd Pakistan Sustainability Summit 2025 on December 3.
The national summit is expected to attract more than 300 experts and stakeholders along with over 10,000 visitors to its sustainability expo, focusing on the theme “Sustainable Housing for Economic Resilience & Climate-Smart Living.”
Speaking to a group of media professionals on Sunday afternoon, well-known environmentalist and climate advocacy expert, Executive Director Devcom-Pakistan Munir Ahmed said while the construction and real estate sectors remain critical for national GDP and employment, they also account for substantial natural resource consumption and large volumes of carbon emissions.”
“This duality places Pakistan at a crossroads where economic development must be reconciled with climate resilience, environmental responsibility, and long-term energy security,” he added.
“Sustainable housing offers a transformative pathway to achie this balance. By promoting green construction, energy-efficient design, and climate-smart infrastructure, Pakistan can strengthen economic stability, reduce environmental degradation, support green job creation, and enhance quality of life. These efforts directly contribute to several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Collectively, they support a more resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon development trajectory under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth),” he noted.
The second Pakistan Sustainability Summit 2025 aims to serve as a high-level platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strategic collaboration. It will bring together policymakers, architects, engineers, urban planners, researchers, financiers, builders, development organizations, and community voices to explore practical and scalable solutions for climate-smart and economically resilient housing, he underscored.
The parallel sustainability expo will offer partner institutions a dedicated space to demonstrate innovative technologies, eco-friendly materials, smart urban systems, renewable energy solutions, and housing models designed to reduce carbon footprints and enhance affordability. The Pakistan Sustainability Awards 2025 will honor exemplary achievers in categories such as green housing, sustainable materials, engineering innovation, architectural design, youth innovation, women’s leadership, and environmental reporting—aimed at inspiring replication and mainstreaming of best practices nationwide, he focused.
Munir Ahmed underscored the strategic importance of this year’s summit. “Pakistan can no longer afford to expand its cities on outdated, resource-intensive, and climate-insensitive models,” he said.
“Sustainable housing is central not only to reducing emissions and environmental degradation, but also to protecting vulnerable populations, lowering long-term housing and energy costs, and driving economic resilience. Aligning our housing and urban planning priorities with the relevant SDGs is essential for ensuring a livable future for our next generations. This summit aims to build a national coalition committed to accelerating this transition,” he said.
The summit’s thematic sessions will delve into policy reforms, architectural innovation, energy-smart urban infrastructure, climate finance, social inclusion, and the digital transformation of housing systems.
Experts will examine how national and provincial housing policies can be better aligned with Pakistan’s climate commitments under SDG 13, and with global sustainability frameworks linked to SDG 11 and Vision 2035. Presentations will highlight advances in sustainable design, locally adapted and low-carbon materials, renewable energy integration such as solar and wind systems, water conservation technologies, and responsible waste management practices. Participants will also explore the growing role of digital tools—including IoT, GIS, digital twins, and smart city applications—in optimizing energy use, improving transparency, and strengthening long-term housing management.
Green financing will be a central focus, with discussions on climate funds, green bonds, concessional lending, microfinance for low-income housing, and carbon credit markets to accelerate sustainable construction. Another key area will be community resilience and inclusion, emphasizing affordable housing models, gender-responsive planning, disaster resilience, and equitable access to climate-smart infrastructure—ensuring that the sustainability agenda advances SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
The event takes place at a time when Pakistan confronts a widening housing deficit exceeding 400,000 units annually, a rapidly growing urban population, and escalating climate-induced risks. Nearly 40 percent of urban residents lack access to adequate housing and essential services, highlighting the urgent need to reform how Pakistan builds, plans, and manages its cities.
