Pakistan’s first ‘Living Walls’ project to be launched on May 1: commissioner

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Mar, 2026) Divisional Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar said that the divisional administration has decided to launch Pakistan’s first-ever “Living Walls” pilot project in Faisalabad from May 1, 2026 to tackle environmental pollution by reducing smog, dust and carbon emissions through innovative green technology.

Chairing a meeting of Environment Protection Department Punjab, he said that the project would involve growing moss (kai) on selected walls across the city to naturally absorb carbon dioxide and improve air quality.

He said that under the pilot phase, around 30 polluted walls in public and private sectors have been identified where the moss would be cultivated.

The experts from University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) would provide technical assistance to ensure effective implementation and sustainability of the project, he added.

He said that the divisional administration was arranging a special type of plaster to support the growth of moss. It would take approximately three months for the vegetation to fully develop, he added.

He said that the moss-covered walls are expected to absorb carbon emissions over an area of up to 100 square meters, contributing significantly to pollution reduction.

Highlighting the seriousness of environmental challenges, Raja Jahangir Anwar said that smog and air pollution had become major concerns for urban centers, necessitating the adoption of modern and innovative solutions.

He stressed that traditional measures alone were no longer sufficient to address the growing environmental crisis.

He directed the universities and the Environment Protection Department to expedite coordinated efforts and complete all necessary preparations at the earliest.

He emphasized the importance of scientific planning, monitoring and evaluation to ensure success of the pilot project, which could later be expanded to other parts of the city and replicated in other urban centers of the country.

The officials at the meeting agreed that if successfully implemented, the “living walls” initiative could serve as a cost-effective and sustainable model for improving urban air quality and mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change.