Islamabad: Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), has issued letters to all Chief Ministers, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and relevant federal ministers, advocating for the adoption of the Energy Conservation Building Code 2023 (ECBC-2023). The minister emphasized the need to integrate the code into building laws within their jurisdictions to enhance energy efficiency and minimize waste, benefiting both the government and consumers.

According to Press Information Department, the minister highlighted that inefficient electricity use in buildings leads to increased utility costs and necessitates the maintenance of numerous power plants that remain underused, resulting in higher electricity tariffs. The ECBC-2023 aims to address these issues by promoting energy-efficient buildings, which can also reduce natural gas consumption during winter. The code’s implementation is expected to help manage peak demand, thereby lowering operational costs and energy consumption in the power sector.

The minister outlined a two-pronged strategy for sustainable power sector development and economic growth through energy efficiency in buildings. This includes revising existing by-laws to incorporate ECBC-2023 and integrating the code into the Annual Development programs for public sector infrastructure projects. The ECBC-2023 has been approved by the Federal Cabinet and the National Economic Council, and is available for public access on the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority website, encouraging widespread use to advance sustainability efforts.