Islamabad:The capital city is set to host one of the most significant dialogues on sustainable urban development as preparations intensify for the Pakistan Sustainability Summit 2025, themed “Sustainable Housing for Economic Resilience and Climate Smart Living.”
The upcoming summit, scheduled on December 3, is gaining momentum across both public and private sectors, as key national stakeholders express strong support for an urgent transition towards environmentally responsible, economically viable, and socially inclusive housing models in Pakistan.
This renewed push for sustainability in urban planning was evident on Saturday when the Founder of the Pakistan Sustainability Summit and Executive Director of Devcom-Pakistan, Syed Munir Ahmed, called on the President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Chairman of the Realtors Association of Pakistan, Sardar Tahir Mahmood, and briefed him on the vision, objectives and national relevance of the summit. The meeting underscored the strategic importance of engaging business leadership and the real estate sector in shaping Pakistan’s housing future at a time when cities are expanding rapidly and climate vulnerabilities are intensifying.
Expressing his full support for the initiative, Sardar Tahir Mahmood emphasized that sustainable housing is no longer an option but a necessity for Pakistan’s long-term economic resilience. “The real estate and construction sectors are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, but they must now evolve in accordance with modern sustainability principles,” he said.
“Sustainable housing is directly linked to economic resilience, climate-smart living and social well-being. As President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Realtors Association of Pakistan, I assure our full support to the Pakistan Sustainability Summit 2025. This platform is critically important to bring together policymakers, developers, environmental experts, academics and communities to devise innovative, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible housing solutions for the future,” Sardar Tahir Mahmood stated.
He noted that climate change, rising energy costs, water scarcity, and the rapid growth of urban populations have created unprecedented challenges for the housing sector. According to him, the only way forward is to adopt low-carbon construction practices, renewable energy integration, green building standards, sustainable materials and efficient land-use planning. He reiterated that ICCI and the Realtors Association of Pakistan would encourage their members and stakeholders across the country to actively participate in the summit and contribute their insights, experiences and solutions for a greener housing future.
Syed Munir Ahmed, a well-known environmentalist and climate change advocacy expert, welcomed the support and described it as a strong endorsement of the summit’s mission to mainstream sustainability in Pakistan’s urban development framework. He highlighted that housing is deeply connected to economic stability, public health, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability, and therefore must be addressed through an integrated, multi-stakeholder approach.
“The Pakistan Sustainability Summit 2025 is not just a conference; it is the beginning of a national movement to rethink how we build our homes, cities and communities,” Munir Ahmed said. “Our goal is to promote sustainable housing solutions that are affordable, climate resilient, energy efficient and socially inclusive. At a time when Pakistan is facing devastating climate impacts, from floods to heatwaves, sustainable housing is essential for protecting both people and the economy.”
He further added, “The endorsement of ICCI and the Realtors Association of Pakistan is a major milestone. It reflects that the business and real estate community understands the urgency of this transformation and is ready to be part of the solution. Sustainable housing is central to economic recovery, job creation, disaster risk reduction and environmental conservation.”
The summit is already attracting high-level participation from government institutions, development authorities, planning bodies and private sector leaders. Among those who have formally consented to participate as keynote speakers are the Director General of the Public Private Partnership Wing at the Ministry of Housing and Works, Waseem Hayat Bajwa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL), and the Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation. They, along with experts from architecture, urban planning, renewable energy, water management, finance, and climate adaptation, will contribute their perspectives on policy reforms, investment opportunities, innovative construction technologies, green financing mechanisms and regulatory frameworks required for the future of sustainable housing in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Sustainability Summit 2025 aims to align its discussions with national development priorities and global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement, and Pakistan’s climate targets and urban development strategies. It will focus on themes such as climate-resilient infrastructure, low-carbon housing, net-zero buildings, circular construction, eco-friendly materials, smart cities, and sustainable financing models tailored to Pakistan’s local context and socio-economic realities.
Devcom-Pakistan, which has a long-standing history of advocating environmental sustainability, climate action and community-focused development, envisions the summit as a long-term platform for ongoing dialogue, policy advocacy and partnerships.
The event will also serve as a bridge between government agencies, private enterprises, donors, academia, civil society and international organizations working towards sustainable development.
