A seminar titled “Architecture And Planning For Sustainable Development” was organized by the Department of Architecture at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering, and Management Sciences on May 11, 2022.
There were four main speakers at the seminar. Two experts, Prof. Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed Chandio, Chairperson, Department of City and Regional Planning, MUET, Jamshoro and Ar. Planer. Fariha Amjad Ubaid, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture & Planning, NED-UET, Karachi were invited from Sindh province. The other two experts, including Ar. Dr. Waqas Ahmed Mahar is currently the Chairperson, Department of Architecture and Ar. Dr. Sohrab Ahmed Marri, Assistant Professor, were from BUITEMS Quetta. The worthy Vice-Chancellor BUITEMS, Mr. Ahmed Farooq Bazai (S.I), was the Chief Guest of the event.
The seminar commenced with a welcome note from Dr. Waqas, followed by presentations by all four speakers, a panel discussion, a Q&A session with the participants and concluding remarks from the Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Prof. Dr. Syed Kamran Sami and worthy Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Ahmed Farooq Bazai (S.I).
The aim of organising the seminar was to highlight the importance of architecture and urban planning and focus on various urban issues that our cities face. Cities must be planned and developed carefully considering population, living facilities, affordable housing, public transport system, land use and zoning, future growth, etc.
The seminar was received well by a huge audience, including academicians, practising architects and planners, members of local government, development authorities, regulatory bodies, etc. The participants acknowledged the need and importance of the architecture and planning profession for sustainable development. It was stressed that planners focus on the big picture of community needs and the impact on surrounding areas, so both planners and architects must work together to ensure sustainable development focusing on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities.