Karachi, 29 TH October, 2025: In a groundbreaking achievement, Habib University has been
awarded the prestigious EDGE Advanced Green Building Certification by the International
Finance Corporation (IFC), becoming the first university in South Asia and the Middle East,
Central Asia, and Türkiye (MCA) region to receive this global recognition for sustainability,
establishing it as a green- campus.
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) by IFC, a member of the World Bank
Group, is an internationally recognized green building certification system designed to make
buildings more resource-efficient by leveraging local climate data, building type, and occupant
behavior.
With a site area exceeding 45,000 square meters, Habib University’s campus in Karachi was
designed with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility and long-term efficiency.
Through smart architectural planning and the optimization of passive design features, the
university has achieved 40% energy savings as well as significant water and materials efficiency
gains.
These measures are equivalent to powering 230 Pakistani households annually, saving water
equal to 1,200 water tankers, and avoiding emissions equal to planting 2,200 trees and letting
them grow for 10 years.
“This milestone affirms Habib University’s resolve to ‘walk the talk’ of sustainability and
epistemic reparation. It reflects our belief that institutions must lead not only in knowledge, but
in conscience—creating models of learning that heal, regenerate, and sustain the world around
them,” said Habib University President, Wasif A. Rizvi.
"At Habib University, we’ve set a new standard in sustainable campus design with our EDGE
Advanced Certification. This campus was built smart, built green, and built for the future,
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reflecting our commitment to climate-conscious infrastructure that serves generations to come,”
said Azher Abbas, Head of Infrastructure, Planning, and Development at Habib University.
“By achieving EDGE Advanced Certification, Habib University has proven that sustainable,
resource-efficient construction is not only achievable but also financially viable, even in dense
urban centers like Karachi,” said Naz Khan, Country Manager for Pakistan and Afghanistan at
IFC. “This achievement sets a powerful example for others, helping to accelerate green building
and EDGE adoption across Pakistan. In doing so, we can protect the environment, lower
operating costs, boost investment, and generate jobs throughout the supply chain.”
Habib University’s EDGE Advanced Certification is part of IFC’s green building project, which
aims to enhance the green building ecosystem in Pakistan. This includes efforts to improve
policy and regulatory frameworks for green buildings as well as awareness-raising and capacity
building of stakeholders from the public, private and financial sector.
"Habib University’s achievement sets a powerful example for higher education institutions
across South Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Türkiye, demonstrating how innovative
design and sustainable practices can be embedded into construction and longterm growth
strategies," said Aftab Ahmed, Regional Director for the Middle East, Pakistan & Afghanistan at
IFC. "This milestone also reflects IFC’s strong commitment to scaling sustainable building
solutions that advance resource efficiency and help build a more sustainable future for Pakistan."
The project is funded by the CIFPAK facility, (a climate-related blended finance program)
managed by IFC, in partnership with the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office.
Habib University’s achievement is not only a national milestone but also a regional first,
underscoring its role as a climate-conscious, future-ready institution committed to excellence in
design, education, and sustainability.
About Habib University
Habib University is a leading liberal arts and sciences university in Pakistan, offering a globally
competitive education grounded in interdisciplinary learning, civic responsibility, and critical
inquiry. With a purpose-built campus and a focus on inclusive excellence, Habib is redefining
higher education in the region.
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About EDGE
An innovation of IFC, EDGE helps property developers to build and brand green in a fast, easy
and affordable way. EDGE is supported by free software that offers up solutions to reduce
energy, water, and the energy embodied in building materials by at least 20 percent. EDGE
certification is recognized by the major green finance standards and streamlines green debt
reporting requirements. The simplicity and low cost of EDGE, plus its focus on quantifying
emission reductions makes it invaluable to map and track a path to zero carbon. The program has
been generously supported by the following donors: The United Kingdom, Austria, Canada,
Denmark, ESMAP, EU, Finland, GEF, Hungary, Japan, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. For
more information, visit www.edgebuildings.com .
