Islamabad: In a historic recognition for Pakistan, the National Assembly has been awarded the inaugural Green Mace Award at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq accepted the award, which acknowledges the National Assembly’s environmental initiatives, such as being the world’s first 100% solar-powered Parliament, transitioning to a paperless system, and the ongoing water harvesting project at the Parliament House. Speaker Sadiq expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating that the award signifies the Parliament’s commitment to a sustainable future rather than merely seeking accolades.

The National Assembly has fully transitioned to solar energy, eliminating reliance on non-renewable energy sources. It has also moved towards a paperless environment, utilizing electronic tablets for parliamentary proceedings, thereby reducing the use of printed documents.

The Parliament House’s rainwater harvesting project is another crucial element of its initiatives, aimed at conserving and efficiently using water resources.

At the conference, participants lauded Pakistan’s Green Parliament initiative, viewing it as a model for other Commonwealth Parliaments aiming to implement sustainable practices.