Facilitating Green Infrastructure Adoption in Pakistan’s Construction Sector

Abstract

The adoption of green infrastructure (GI) in the construction sector of Pakistan is a multidimensional challenge that involves policy frameworks, stakeholder’s involvement in the process, urban integration, governance structures, and the realm of economic activities. Based on this, this study applies a system thinking approach to understand the intertwining of key enablers of GI adoption by Causal Loop Diagrams (CLD) of the interdependent relationships between governance, sustainable, and urban planning. Our findings show that provision of stakeholder coordination improves planning efficiency and guarantees integration of GI principles, including permeable pavements, sustainable drainage systems, and energy efficient designs in urban development strategies. Urban growth, which is collaborative and based on the engagement of policymakers, developers, financial institutions, and local communities, increase urban expansion at once inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Additionally, policy and governance frameworks serve as strong accelerators for sustainability and SDG alignment. Mandatory green building codes and carbon reduction policies promote public awareness and bring about sustainable long term initiatives. The study, however, points to an inner negative feedback loop between political instability and corruption which impede economic development, lead to poor investment in education and R&D and hence a slow technological advancement and operational efficiency. It creates an accelerated urban planning in-efficacy, severely weakening industrial competitiveness endogenous to the development of Los Angeles. However, to overcome such challenges, the research concludes that GI adoption is not enough, and it is necessary to undertake reforms in governance structures and provide financial incentives as well as spearhead targeted stakeholder collaboration. This suggests that mandatory green building regulations should be enforced, tax incentives to building sustainably should be introduced, the sustainability education should be integrated in engineering courses, public-private partnership should be encouraged in developing green urban areas. Addressing these systemic barriers will help Pakistan to transition to sustainable infrastructure faster, the long term economic and environmental sustainability, in line with best practices globally and SDGs alike.