LAHORE: The government of Punjab has significantly scaled up its flagship green school certification programme, an initiative aimed at embedding environmental responsibility among students and building a climate-resilient future for the province. Launched under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the programme has witnessed widespread participation from both public and private educational institutions. Officials said that 26, 330 schools across 41 districts have formally pledged to adopt environmentally sustainable practices, with over 7. 6 million (76 lakh) students and teachers registered so far under the initiative, reflecting a strong institutional commitment to climate action at the grassroots level. The initiative is being spearheaded by the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD), with Secretary Silwat Saeed providing strategic oversight and implementation leadership. The programme is structured around six thematic areas: air quality improvement, water conservation, energy efficiency, waste management, environmental awareness, and plantation drives. Under these themes, schools are undertaking practical steps such as displaying daily air quality indices, promoting water-saving mechanisms, shifting to energy-efficient systems, banning single-use plastics, and initiating recycling and composting practices. Plantation and biodiversity enhancement activities are also being carried out to improve green cover within school premises. According to the official data, public sector institutions account for more than 80 per cent of participating schools, while thousands of private schools have also joined the initiative. The programme categories institutions based on performance through a rigorous 100-point evaluation system, awarding one- to five-star certifications to ensure accountability and measurable progress. Awareness and outreach sessions have been conducted in major cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad, where students, teachers and community members were sensitised to environmental challenges and sustainable solutions. In addition, specialised training programmes have been organised to build the capacity of teachers, enabling them to effectively implement and monitor green practices within their institutions. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Punjab’s green school certification programme expanded
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