By Abdul Ghani

The Punjab government has proposed a $60 million initiative to transform its secretariats into environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient facilities.

The initiative is among the projects being processed under the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Pakistan covering fiscal years 2026 to 2035, according to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan.

The proposed project envisages a comprehensive overhaul of government buildings through energy-efficient infrastructure, renewable energy integration, water conservation, low-carbon transportation and modern environmental monitoring systems.

According to the document, the initiative has an estimated budget of $60 million. It focuses on Lahore, where government secretariats are expected to serve as models for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmentally responsible public-sector operations.

The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency in buildings, conserving water, and enhancing waste management and transportation while establishing environmental monitoring and carbon-footprint assessment systems.

A major component of the proposed initiative involves retrofitting existing government buildings to improve their energy performance and reduce operational emissions.

The planned interventions include rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, renewable energy installations, low-carbon government vehicle fleets and circular waste management systems.

The document also proposes the deployment of predictive artificial intelligence for building energy management, indicating a potential shift towards technology-driven monitoring and optimisation of electricity consumption in government offices.

Other proposed activities include carbon-negative landscaping, digitalisation and the promotion of sustainable workplace practices across government departments.

The initiative is designed to develop replicable net-zero models that could be adopted by other government institutions, helping extend environmentally sustainable practices beyond the initial project locations.

According to the official project details, the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD) will serve as the lead implementing agency.

The Communication and Works Department, Punjab Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (PEECA), and other relevant authorities will provide institutional and technical support.

The EPCCD will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluation, including calculating the percentage progress of each participating secretariat towards net-zero compliance.

The proposed investment reflects Punjab's intention to integrate climate-responsive infrastructure, resource efficiency and digital energy-management solutions into public-sector facilities.

If implemented effectively, the initiative could reduce long-term energy consumption, lower government buildings' operating costs and establish practical benchmarks for environmentally sustainable public infrastructure.

The project's inclusion in documentation relating to the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework for Pakistan for FY2026-FY2035 places it within the broader context of development planning and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Credit: INP-WealthPk