Islamabad : Chairperson of Senate Standing by Committee on Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman, addressed a consultative webinar on Circularity in the Construction Industry and Climate Resilience in Pakistan by SDPI to discuss the urgent need for sustainable construction practices in the face of Pakistan’s escalating climate challenges. Delivering keynote remarks as the chief guest, Senator Sherry Rehman underscored the immense environmental footprint of the construction industry and the lack of coordinated policy implementation. “Pakistan’s construction and demolition (C&D) waste accounts for nearly 30% of total solid waste, which amounts to 49.6 million tons annually. At the same time, the industrial sector contributes 38% of Pakistan’s total energy-related CO₂ emissions, with the cement industry alone responsible for 49% of coal-burning CO₂ emissions,” she stated.
She warned that despite these staggering figures, circularity and sustainability in construction remain overlooked, with no comprehensive effort to integrate waste reduction, material reuse, and sustainable urban planning into mainstream industry practices. “We talk about climate resilience, but we are failing to connect the dots across ministries and sectors. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination cannot work in isolation; it must coordinate with the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Planning, and private sector actors to ensure that Pakistan’s urban expansion is sustainable,” she asserted.
Senator Rehman emphasized that Pakistan is urbanizing at an unprecedented rate, with peri-urban areas transforming into cities due to internal migration, driven by the search for better jobs and livelihoods. However, urban planning has failed to keep pace with this rapid growth. “In cities like Jacobabad and Dadu, temperatures have touched 53°C over the past three years, making them some of the hottest places on Earth. Our urban centers are fast becoming heat islands, with no climate-resilient housing or cooling infrastructure in place.”
Senator Rehman further pointed out the fragility of Pakistan’s water and sanitation infrastructure, stating that waste management systems are collapsing under the weight of increasing garbage tonnage. “Pakistan’s solid waste management infrastructure is not equipped to handle the amount of waste being generated, and plastics continue to choke our rivers. The Indus River is now the second most polluted river in the world, while our air quality is also deteriorating rapidly, with Pakistan ranking as the 3rd most polluted country in the world in 2024,” she cautioned.
Senator Rehman noted that formal sector industries fail to incorporate circularity, they continue business as usual, with no regulatory push for sustainability and resilience.
Addressing Pakistan’s policy landscape, Senator Rehman noted that while the Green Building Code 2023 exists, its implementation is weak due to lack of enforcement mechanisms. “Local governments lack the strength and power to enforce zoning regulations. As a result, non-green buildings continue to dominate because they generate jobs.”
Senator Rehman called for strengthening Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs), which currently lack independent enforcement authority. “In developed economies, EPAs serve as a powerful regulatory force, ensuring compliance with building codes and environmental laws. But in Pakistan, our EPAs remain underfunded and ineffective. Without dedicated enforcement, circularity will remain an abstract concept,” she asserted.
Senator Rehman proposed mandatory audits to track industry compliance and stronger public-private partnerships to create incentives for climate-smart construction. “If the construction industry is not incentivized, it will continue on its unsustainable path. Public conversation on sustainable urbanization needs to be widened, and the private sector must be brought on board,” she asserted.
Senator Rehman also emphasized the need for gender-inclusive urban planning, pointing to the Sindh Housing Plan, developed with World Bank support, as an example of climate-resilient housing. “This model should be replicated across all provinces, with climate-adaptive materials and energy-efficient designs.”
Senator Rehman underscored that providing women with land titles can enhance community resilience. “Women have been given land titles in Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees(SPHF). When women are given ownership over land and housing, they are more likely to invest in long-term, nature-based solutions. They are natural nurturers and sustainability advocates, yet they remain excluded from land ownership in many parts of Pakistan. Integrating gender equity in climate resilience planning is not optional—it is essential.”
Senator Rehman stressed that Pakistan’s water security crisis must be a top priority in urban planning. “Our cities are built around the Indus River, except for Quetta, yet access to clean water remains a persistent challenge. If we fail to integrate efficient water management systems, public health and resilience will deteriorate,” she cautioned.
Senator Rehman also called for addressing sanitation challenges in squatter settlements, where public defecation and lack of proper drainage create serious health hazards. “We need provincial-level green building codes, tailored to local seismic, environmental, and resilience needs. Sanitation, water access, and climate-adaptive infrastructure must be embedded in these regulations.”
Senator Rehman underscored that every natural disaster should serve as a lesson for policy improvement. “From the 2022 floods to recurring GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods), Pakistan continues to experience climate disasters, yet we fail to integrate lessons into future urban planning,” she said.
Senator Rehman warned that deforestation and land degradation are worsening, as the timber mafia continues unchecked from Quetta to Chitral. “Pakistan is browning rapidly, and unless zoning and building codes are strictly policed, the damage will be irreversible.”
Senator Rehman called for building technical expertise within government institutions, urging the Pakistan Engineering Council to advise on the enforcement of the Green Building Code. “We have policy frameworks, but no execution mechanisms. We need to build capacity within public institutions to ensure sustainability is not just a policy goal but a practical, enforceable reality,” she concluded.
The webinar concluded with a call for collaborative efforts among government agencies, industry leaders, and civil society to advance circular economy principles in construction and urban planning.