Pakistan’s Parliament has received the inaugural Green Mace Award during the main session of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, reported 24NewsHD TV.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq received the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s award in recognition of the Parliament’s environmental protection measures.
The award recognised Pakistan’s transition to a 100 per cent solar powered Parliament, paperless parliamentary proceedings and other eco-friendly initiatives, including rainwater harvesting at Parliament House.
Conference participants appreciated the use of electronic tablets to digitise National Assembly proceedings and described Pakistan’s Green Parliament initiative as a model for other Commonwealth parliaments.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the award was an honour and acknowledged Parliament’s commitment to providing a clean and sustainable environment for future generations.
He said the Green Parliament journey was not undertaken to win an award but out of a sense of responsibility, adding that the recognition reaffirmed the need for further efforts towards environmental sustainability.