LAHORE:
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has prepared the Green Building Incentives Policy 2025 with the inducements including a 10 per cent discount on all official fees for environment-friendly buildings.
LDA legal adviser Sahibzada Muzafar submitted the draft of the policy before Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Shahid Kairm during the hearing a set of petitions about how smog can be controlled, the society can be made pollution-free and groundwater can be protected from wastage.
Justice Karim admired the initiative with the direction to implement the policy after its approval.
Under the proposed policy, it will be compulsory to make arrangements for conserving used and rainwater, installation of solar panels, gardening on rooftops and designing green building structures in accordance with international standard.
It envisages that the premises meeting the criteria for two years will get the status of green building.
Six buildings are in the last stages of achieving the green building status.
The concession granted to the buildings that will not implement the policy after three years will be converted into fine.
The court was informed that the objective of the policy was to promote environmentally responsible and energy-efficient building practices in Lahore. It was informed that the Punjab government was committed to sustainable urban development through energy efficiency and green construction practices.
‘Green building’ refers to structures designed, constructed and operated to minimise environmental impact through efficient use of resources and improved occupant health and productivity.
The required implementation of LDA by-laws regarding improvement of the environment include tree plantation, rooftop gardening, solarisation, grey water treatment plants and rainwater harvesting.
The declared objective of the initiative is to encourage green building design and energy conservation, provide economic incentive to promote adoption of green practices and align with global standards and national sustainability goals.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food’s Convener Shahid Imran said while talking to a delegation of industrialists from South Punjab that the country stands to gain substantial environmental and economic benefits from a nationwide shift towards solar energy.
He emphasised that with over 300 sunny days a year, Pakistan possesses tremendous potential to harness solar energy on a large scale.
“Transitioning to solar power will significantly reduce our reliance on expensive imported fossil fuels, thereby easing the burden on the national exchequer and helping narrow the trade deficit,” he said. “Moreover, it offers a sustainable solution to Pakistan’s persistent energy shortages, ensuring uninterrupted power supply for households, businesses and industries.”
Shahid Imran noted that a robust solar energy strategy can also uplift rural communities by enabling off-grid solutions, supporting agriculture and enhancing living standards. “With the right policy framework, financial incentives and public-private partnerships, Pakistan can transform its energy sector and move toward a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy. The time to fully embrace solar energy is now, for the prosperity of our people and the preservation of our planet,” he added.
The leader of the delegation, Ziaur Rehman, said solar energy provides a clean, renewable alternative to conventional power sources.
“It significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, helps combat climate change and improves air quality, thereby lowering health-related costs caused by pollution,” he said.
He also noted that the growing solar energy sector holds the potential to create thousands of green jobs, ranging from manufacturing and installation to maintenance and research.
With additional input from APP
