ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) on Tuesday formally launched three landmark national codes aimed at transforming Pakistan’s built environment and construction sector in line with global best practices here on Tuesday.
The newly launched codes include the Green Building Code of Pakistan, Rainwater Harvesting Code, and Occupational Safety and Health Code for the construction sector.
The launching ceremony was attended by the international development partners, diplomats, senior government officials, engineering professionals, academia, representatives of the construction industry, and other stakeholders, reflecting broad national and international support for Pakistan’s sustainability and safety agenda.
Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, Senior Vice Chairman/ Chair Working Group Technical Codes and Standards, outlined the strategic roadmap for implementation and adoption.
Providing an overview of all three codes, Prof Dr Faruukh Arif emphasised that the codes are designed not only as regulatory instruments but as practical tools to guide climate-resilient infrastructure development, water conservation, and worker safety across Pakistan.
Senior Vice President, International Code Council (ICC), Judy Zakreski, being the international partner for the development of the Green Building Code of Pakistan and Rainwater Harvesting code, commended PEC’s commitment to climate-resilient and sustainable building practices, mentioning that this leadership was clearly demonstrated at COP-28 and COP-30.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) underscored the importance of the Occupational Safety and Health Code as a key step toward safer workplaces and enhanced protection for construction workers, in line with global labour and sustainability frameworks. International partners expressed strong support for Pakistan’s initiative and reaffirmed their willingness to collaborate with the PEC in its future endeavours.
Federal Secretary, Ministry for Science and Technology, Shahid Iqbal Baloch, formally launched the codes and termed the initiative a significant national milestone. He noted that the approval and implementation of these codes demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable development, climate action, and decent work, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, He stressed the need to enhance the institutional and technical capacity of the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and concerned departments to ensure effective adoption and enforcement of the codes.
Following the launch, the Chairman of the PEC, Engr Waseem Nazir formally presented copies of the three code books to the Chief Guest.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025