Green Building Bylaws in Sindh: What the SBCA Draft Could Mean for New Buildings
Green building bylaws in Sindh, explained: what the SBCA and IFC draft proposes, how it builds on national codes, and what buyers and builders should watch.
In short
The draft would add a new green building chapter to SBCA's bylaws, with measures such as reflective roofs, efficient fans and lighting, and water-saving fittings. It takes a phased approach, with different requirements for smaller residential buildings and larger developments, and it considers voluntary measures and possible incentives. The IFC estimates that by 2036, buildings under the rules could use about 250 GWh less electricity a year and save about 85 million litres of water a day, mostly in Karachi. Next, a technical working committee will refine the draft, followed by guidelines and training, before final approval. No effective date, size thresholds or costs have been published.
Green building bylaws in Sindh moved a step closer on 19 October 2026. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Sindh Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (SEECA) held a second round of consultations in Karachi on draft rules, prepared with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), that would add a green building chapter to SBCA's regulations. The rules are still a draft. This post explains what is proposed, how it fits with national building codes, and what it could mean if you are building or buying in Karachi.
What was discussed
The Nation and Daily Times reported on 20 October that the consultation was held "on Monday" and was "jointly organized" by SBCA and SEECA. It brought together government departments, regulators, developers from the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), architects and engineers to review the IFC's draft recommendations. It was the second round of consultations on the proposals.
According to the reports, the measures "were chosen to be affordable, suited to Sindh's hot climate, promotive of resilience and easy for inspectors to check", based on existing national codes on green buildings and energy conservation.
SBCA's Director General said Karachi and the province face water shortages and power outages, and that alongside producing more, "we can conserve water and use less energy". He called the proposals "a first step towards sustainable and climate-resilient development".
Why Sindh is looking at this
The proposals draw on a survey of buildings in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Sukkur and Larkana. It found that built-up area in the five cities grew by more than half between 2014 and 2024, "almost entirely without energy standards".
The IFC's projections for 2036, if buildings follow the rules:
| Measure | IFC estimate |
|---|---|
| Electricity | about 250 GWh less a year |
| Water | about 85 million litres a day saved, mostly in Karachi |
| Carbon | more than half a million tonnes avoided over the decade |
These are city-wide estimates. The reports give no savings figure for a single home or building.
Prices are indicative as of October 2026.
How it fits with national codes
Sindh is not starting from scratch:
- Energy Conservation Building Code 2023 (ECBC-2023). Issued by the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) as a revision of the Building Code of Pakistan (Energy Provisions 2011). According to Business Recorder (March 2024), it applies across Pakistan, and provinces "may amend the Code in accordance with their respective climatic conditions". It covers buildings with, among other thresholds, a conditioned area of 200 m² or more. NEECA launched it with an implementation manual in July 2024 (APP).
- Push to provinces. In January 2025, the federal Energy Minister wrote to all chief ministers asking them to implement ECBC-2023 in their building laws (PID).
- Pakistan Green Building Code. ARY News reported in July 2025 that the federal cabinet approved the Pakistan Engineering Council's Green Building Code for buildings of four or more floors.
- Islamabad. In September 2025, CDA said it had "already issued a notification" and that NEECA's building codes would be mandatory for new construction in Islamabad.
The IFC's green buildings lead in Pakistan said the Sindh draft builds on the Pakistan Green Building Code and the Energy Conservation Building Code.
There is also a separate, earlier effort. GIZ describes a Sindh Green Buildings Initiative, under which SBCA and the Buildings Energy Research Centre began working together in December 2024, and SBCA's Director General notified a committee to amend bylaws for ECBC-2023. The reports don't say how that work relates to the IFC draft.
What it could mean for buyers and builders
Nothing is in force yet. Based on what has been published:
- Builders and developers. Expect new design requirements for roofs, fans, lighting and water fittings, with stricter rules for larger developments than for smaller homes. Participants raised affordability, local material availability and simple compliance checks as concerns, so the final rules may change.
- Flat buyers. If adopted, newer buildings could have lower electricity and water use. Until then, ask builders what efficiency features a project includes, and check SBCA approval first (see our post on SBCA's town offices).
- People building a house. The phased approach suggests lighter requirements for small homes, but thresholds aren't published. Our 10 marla construction cost guide covers how costs build up.
We'll update this post when SBCA publishes the final bylaws. Meanwhile, see our Karachi property guide and more Karachi property guides.
Frequently asked questions
Are green building bylaws now law in Sindh?
No. They are a draft. After the second consultation round, a technical working committee will refine them, followed by guidelines and training, before final approval.
What would the Sindh green building bylaws require?
The draft examples include reflective roofs, efficient fans and lighting, and water-saving fittings, phased with different requirements for smaller homes and larger developments.
Who prepared the draft?
The IFC prepared the draft recommendations, with SEECA's input on energy efficiency, for addition to SBCA's regulations.
How much will the rules cost builders?
No cost figures have been published. Affordability was one of the concerns raised at the consultation.
Is there a national energy code for buildings?
Yes. NEECA's Energy Conservation Building Code 2023 applies across Pakistan, and provinces can adapt it to local conditions.
Sources
- The Nation: Sindh proposes green building by-laws to slash electricity, water use (20 October 2026) nation.com.pk
- Daily Times: Sindh proposes green building by-laws to slash electricity, water use (20 October 2026) dailytimes.com.pk
- Business Recorder: NEECA issues Energy Conservation Building Code 2023 (21 March 2024) brecorder.com
- APP: Energy Conservation Building Code 2023 rolled out (25 July 2024) app.com.pk
- PID: Energy Minister writes to chief ministers on implementing ECBC-2023 (2 January 2025) pid.gov.pk
- ARY News: Pakistan Green Building Code approved for new constructions (31 July 2025) arynews.tv
- CDA: CDA and NEECA to enforce energy-efficient building codes in Islamabad (23 September 2025) cda.gov.pk
- GIZ: Sindh Green Buildings Initiative giz.de
