Climate Resilient Infrastructure.

Premium residential societies even in the heart of metropolitans like Lahore; fail to give their residents the lifestyle they deserve despite the exorbitant charges these residents pay in the name of development and maintenance.

The claims of a lush green, clean, secure community are often punctuated by abandoned, ill-maintained swampy plots housing loads of insects. Most of these societies have green belts turning brown due to withered ornamental plants habituated by stray dogs. Sadly, the sense of community is also absent.

In contrast, some societies which boast of health and wellness clubs where one can go for swimming, dining and exercise require the residents to drive several kilometers in the bustling traffic to access these retreats, neglecting the concept of smart living. More troubling truths are revealed as one examines the house construction in societies which generally is about everything but sustainability and climate change resilience. The prevalent construction practices are not only poor but also energy inefficient, wasting massive resources and generating huge emissions.

Therefore, despite the exorbitantly high cost of construction in Pakistan, the end product falls short of meeting any international standard quality of construction and workmanship. The houses are generally cold during winter and hot during summer. They provide no refuge against external pollution, dust, and noise.

The architecture of these houses comes from famous tourist destinations across the globe. Most of the house designs are built just by copying fancy designs from Italy, Spain, England, and France. The problem with this is that the climate, atmosphere and culture of Europe is very different from our country, and this leads to further discomfort for the residents.

For instance, a few weeks ago a friend of mine visited a house in a posh society on the outskirts of Lahore. The houses, although small were built with ultra-fancy architecture including Spanish window designs, Italian kitchens, and French restrooms, and the exterior face comprised of four windows each eight feet high to give it a Mediterranean feel. The house had all the 'aww' factors, but everything seemed out of place because of the different weather conditions of Lahore compared to the cities from where the above-mentioned designs were...