Request a Meeting
our blog

Category: Dialogue

9 Ways to Prepare Your Home for a Cosy Autumn

9 Ways to Prepare Your Home for a Cosy Autumn As the days get crisper and leaves start falling, it’s time to turn your home into a warm haven Amanda Pollard 6 October 2016 Sheher Saaz UK Autumn is a beautiful season, with its orange and yellow leaves and bright red berries. It’s the perfect time to wrap up for a walk – then come back to an inviting home. Follow these tips to get the most from your four walls this autumn. Ramp up the warmth and cosiness As the days and evenings become colder, you’ll need to think about keeping warm. First things first – get yourself some soft throws and blankets. Then attend to the bigger stuff, like making sure your radiators are all bled and having your boiler checked. If you’re lucky enough to have a working fireplace or wood-burning stove, now’s the time to prepare it for use. It’s important to have your chimney swept and tested once a year. Look for a chimney sweep who’s registered with the National Association of Chimney Sweeps or the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps. Stock up on firewood and kindling, and invest in a couple of baskets to store it next to the fire. Most importantly, make sure your smoke alarms are all working. Pep up your entrance Cheer yourself up on colder days by creating a warm welcome to your home. Autumn is the perfect time to spruce up your front door, as it’s generally still mild enough to paint outside. Choose a cheerful colour that will make everyone smile. Make sure you give the wood a good sand beforehand and buy an exterior paint that will protect it in all weathers. It’s also a good idea to take the hardware off beforehand, so now might be a good time to invest in a brand-new doorknob or letterbox. The rest of the front garden might need a tidy up, too. After all, you’ll probably see more of the front than the back garden during the winter. Plant some evergreen shrubs that will provide an attractive structure throughout the cold months, and add a couple of winter-flowering plants to boost interest. Make way for wellies The hallway will need a seasonal overhaul, too. Put away sandals and sun hats till the spring and organise space for larger outerwear. Make sure there are enough hooks for all your heavy coats, as well as a stand for umbrellas. It’s also a good idea to put a basket next to the door for gloves, hats and scarves. Lastly, allocate enough room for everyone’s wellies to be neatly stored after a muddy autumn walk. Prepare for wholesome dining With autumn comes delicious food: warming soups, roast dinners and hearty breakfasts. Prepare a dining area where you can enjoy some cold-weather fuel with friends or family. The simple linen tablecloth and white crockery here looks lovely with the wooden furniture and rattan basket. Collect some bare twigs or branches during an autumn walk and put them in a vase, as these homeowners have done. The display will last all winter, and then you can replace it with spring flowers. Get organised I think September and October are a great time for new resolutions, as you’re not recovering from the excesses of Christmas. Use the ‘back-to-school’ feel of these months to get your home organised and ready for winter action. Put away your summer wardrobe and have a declutter at the same time. Organise your filing and invest in any new storage you think you might need. Now might be a good time to organise your kitchen cupboards, too. Throw away out-of-date food and store similar things together. Decant pasta, rice and pulses into attractive jars, and find some useful storage for your spices. Locate a window seat Even if you’re not planning to venture outside often, it’s still nice to capture daylight from the comfort of an armchair. Rearrange furniture so some of your seating is facing a window. On a cold, crisp day, you can cosy up with a blanket and a book while watching the leaves fall from the trees. Organise outside lighting On a dark evening, arriving home or visiting the shed or dustbins will be difficult if you can’t see where you’re going. So it’s important to ensure any outside lighting is in good working order. It’s also nice to have some lighting in the back garden to illuminate winter plants. TheAmelanchier lamarckii tree on the right here has a lovely sculptural shape that looks beautiful lit up. The tree is a good choice, as it has pleasant autumn colour, followed by early flowering blossom. Create a spa bathroom Quick summer showers make way for indulgent baths and pampering in the autumn. No matter how small your bathroom is, it’s possible to give it a luxurious spa feel. Invest in some scented candles and reed diffusers, as well as a few good-quality soaps and oils. Place rolled-up towels in a basket to give the room a hotel look, then close the door and escape for an hour or two of rest and relaxation. Cosy up at bedtime Turn your bedroom into a warm, restful haven by adding some thicker textiles to the bed. Here, crisp white bed linen has been given a cosier feel with a knitted throw and cushion. Just by adding a few accessories, you can make an instant transformation from summer to autumn. The vase of flowers on the bedside adds to the natural warmth of the room. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a cup of tea in bed on a Sunday morning. Do you enjoy autumn, or are you more keen on warmer weather?How do you prepare your home for the new season? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.

Read More ⟶
October 11, 2016 No Comments

Habitat III: The New Urban Agenda

The New Urban Agenda This century will see a substantial majority of the world’s population living in urban centers. The Habitat III Conference therefore has, as its mission, the adoption of a New Urban Agenda—an action-oriented document which will set global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development, rethinking the way we build, manage, and live in cities through drawing together cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors at all levels of government as well as the private sector. Agreed Draft of the New Urban Agenda 10 September 2016 New York, USA After the release of the Surabaya Draft of the New Urban Agenda at the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the Habitat III Conference in Surabaya, Indonesia in July 2016, the New Urban Agenda has finally been agreed on at the Habitat III Informal Intergovernmental Meeting which took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 7 to 10 September 2016, and it will be adopted in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016. View the Agreed draft of the New Urban Agenda here – 10 September 2016 Surabaya Draft of the New Urban Agenda 28 July 2016 Surabaya, Indonesia This draft is the result of the negotiations at the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the Habitat III Conference (PrepCom3), held in Surabaya, Indonesia, 25–27 July 2016. It is the basis for the next round of informal negotiations in New York end of August/beginning of September. The exact date of the informal negotiations will be announced soon. View the Surabaya Draft of the New Urban Agenda here – 28 July 2016 Draft of the New Urban Agenda 18 July 2016 New York, USA The Draft New Urban Agenda has been prepared on the basis of inputs and negotiations throughout the Habitat III intersessional process leading toPrepCom3. This draft will be the basis of negotiations at the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the Habitat III Conference (PrepCom3), to be held in Surabaya, Indonesia, 25–27 July 2016. The New Urban Agenda aims to be a concise, action-oriented, forward-looking, and universal framework of actions for housing and sustainable urban development. Read More Zero Drafts of the New Urban Agenda 18 June and 6 May 2016 New York, USA The first zero draft of the New Urban Agenda—which was prepared on the basis of inputs from broad regional and thematic consultations, as well as the policy recommendations elaborated by the policy units and comments thereon received by participating states and all stakeholders—was submitted on 6 May 2016 by the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee for discussion at the informal intergovernmental negotiations and informal hearings with local authorities associations and civil society organizations in May and June, as decided by the General Assembly resolution A/70/210. Read More The Transformative Power of Urbanization Throughout modern history, urbanization has been a major driver of development and poverty reduction. Governments can respond to this key development opportunity through Habitat III by promoting a new model of urban development that is able to integrate all facets of sustainable development to promote equity, welfare and shared prosperity. It is time to think urban: how to mobilise the global community and focus all levels of human settlements, including small rural communities, villages, market towns, intermediate cities and metropolises for demographic and economic growth. Habitat III can help systematise the alignment between cities and towns and national planning objectives in their role as drivers of national economic and social development. Dr. Joan Clos, the Secretary-General of the Habitat III Conference, talks about the Habitat III process in occasion of the Montreal Thematic Meeting Urbanization is an unprecedented challenge. By the middle of the century four of every five people might be living in towns and cities. Urbanization and development are inextricably linked and it is necessary to find a way of ensuring the sustainability of growth. Urbanization had become a driving force as well as a source of development with the power to change and improve lives. Habitat III Conference has the convening power to bring together all actors to achieve these objectives. Solutions for the complex challenge of urbanization can only be found by bringing together Member States, multilateral organizations, local governments, private sector and civil society. Rethinking the Urban Agenda is: Embracing urbanization at all levels of human settlements, more appropriate policies can embrace urbanization across physical space, bridging urban, peri-urban and rural areas, and assist governments in addressing challenges through national and local development policy frameworks. Integrating equity to the development agenda. Equity becomes an issue of social justice, ensures access to the public sphere, extends opportunities and increases the commons. Fostering national urban planning and planned city extensions. Deciding how relevant sustainable development goals will be supported through sustainable urbanization. Aligning and strengthening institutional arrangements with the substantive outcomes of Habitat III, so as to ensure effective delivery of the new Urban Agenda. Implementing the Urban Agenda means: Urban Rules and Regulations. The outcomes in terms of quality of an urban settlement is dependent on the set of rules and regulations and its implementation. Proper urbanization requires the rule of law. Urban Planning and Design. Establishing the adequate provision of common goods, including streets and open spaces, together with an efficient pattern of buildable plots. Municipal Finance. For a good management and maintenance of the city, local fiscal systems should redistribute parts of the urban value generated. With the consideration of: National Urban Policies. These establish a connection between the dynamics of urbanization and the overall process of national development. The Global Context Cities today occupy approximately only 2% of the total land, however: 70%Economy (GDP) over 60%Global Energy Consumption 70%Greenhouse Gas Emissions  70%Global Waste The Global Development Framework

Read More ⟶
September 15, 2016 No Comments

UK Planning News

Planning News Javid promises housing White Paper with “significant” new planning measures by year end Communities Secretary acknowledges the administration’s poor track record for delivering new homes and promises significant new measures to speed up the supply of new housing… Chancellor Hammond stresses government backing for infrastructure body Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference Hammond insists that the government is firmly behind the National Infrastructure Commission… Regional planning formula in latest Welsh local government reform proposals Local Government Secretary Mark Drakeford proposes alternative method for Welsh authorities to achieve reforms by working together to deliver key services on a regional or sub-regional basis… Ebbsfleet Garden City reports housing site short-fall Implementation framework for Ebbsfleet Garden City identifies locations for 12,800 new dwellings, 2,200 short of the garden city’s proposed 15,000 new homes… Buckinghamshire housing scheme blocked by Secretary of State Communities Secretary agrees with inspector and refuses application for a 42-home scheme on 2.35-hectares of land in Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire… Planning round-up 6 October 2016 – Report on Welsh Permitted Development regime for non-domestic solar – Greater Manchester strategy hiccup – East of England planner drive – Teesside deal funding announced – M4 Newport inquiry put back five months – Berkshire local plan delay – Salford regeneration – Taunton redevelopment mooted – And more stories…

Read More ⟶
September 6, 2016 No Comments

The future of the Built Environment in Southwark

  SheherSaaz Present: Southwark Breakfast Seminar with Cllr Mark Williams The future of the Built Environment in Southwark The Built Environment in Southwark: What’s next for the Borough? Tuesday 18th October 2016, 8am – 10am Garry Weston Library, Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, SE1 9DA Sheher Saaz Chartered Town Planners, Snapdragon Consulting and Rolfe Judd are delighted to invite you to our Southwark breakfast event to explore the future of the Built Environment in Southwark. For a number of years, Southwark has been one of the busiest Boroughs in development terms and with the Old Kent Road Area Action Plan out to consultation, and other areas for regeneration being eyed by the Council, that is likely to continue. As such, we have assembled an expert panel to discuss the future of development in Southwark, Each panellist will give their perspective on development in Southwark, which will be followed by a Q&A session with all of the speakers. Our panelists are: Councillor Mark Williams is the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and New Homes at Southwark Council. Having been elected in 2011 to represent Brunswick Park Ward, he was quickly elevated to the Cabinet by Cllr Peter John and now oversees the council’s sustainable regeneration programme.  Angus Boag is the Development Director at The Workspace Group, a FTSE250 real estate trust, that provides office space for London’s New and Growing Companies. Angus has helped oversee the transformation of the group’s portfolio, including in Southwark. The Biscuit Factory, Metal Box and The Print Rooms are three Workspace centres in Southwark that have recently been transformed.  Richard Kalmar is the Managing Director of South London estate agents KALMARs and independent property advisors. He joined his father at KALMARs in 1977, and has worked continued to practice ever since. He is also the Chair of the Southwark Chamber of Commerce. Rebekah Paczek is the Managing Director of Built Environment communications specialists, Snapdragon Consulting. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Rebekah set up Snapdragon Consulting in 2010 and has worked on a number of planning projects in Southwark and across London. Kumi Osawa is a Director at Sheher Saaz Chartered Town Planners. Kumi has more than two decades of planning consultancy experience on a wide range of development projects throughout London and the South East of England. She is currently working on a number of active projects in Southwark. Euan MacGillivray is a Director at Rolfe Judd Architecture. Euan has led the design, development and construction of numerous complex, mixed-use urbanregeneration schemes as well as bijou projects. He is currently directing the regeneration of a significant area of the Old Kent Road. The format for the event is as follows: Breakfast served: 8am Keynote speeches: 8.30am – 9.30am Question and Answer session: 9.30am – 10am Finish: 10am We have a very limited number of places remaining for this event. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to events@snapdragonconsulting.co.uk or call 020 3176 4161 for more details. We look forward to seeing you on 18th October. Kind regards, Rebakah Paczek, Managing Director, Snapdragon Consulting Kumi Osawa, Director, Sheher Saaz Chartered Town Planners Sean Tickle, Director, Rolfe Judd Planning   Sheher Saaz Chartered Town Planners, Snapdragon Consulting and Rolfe Judd are delighted to invite you to join us at a breakfast briefing event on Southwark, with a panel featuring Councillor Mark Williams, as well as a number of leading Built Environment professionals currently working in the Borough. When: Tuesday, 18th October 2016, 7:30am – 10:00am Where: Garry Weston Library, Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, SE1 9DA

Read More ⟶
August 30, 2016 No Comments

Sheher Saaz and Independence Day Celebrations

Sheher Saaz and its team celebrated  Independence Day of Pakistan at its Lahore office. All the team members were very enthusiastic and thrilled about importance of this day and eager to strive for the better future of their country. 14th August the day of Pakistan is a common day for other nations, but this is most valuable day for Pakistani nation in history of Pakistan. In Urdu language it is called as “Yom-e-Istiqlal”. On 14th August 1947 the world saw a new country “Islamic Republic of Pakistan” as an independent country. Remember that according to Islamic calendar Pakistan became on 27th of Ramadan when Allah blessed Muslims with the pious homeland. The word “Pakistan” is combination of two words “Pak” means pious and “stan” means homeland. Both words belong to Persian and Urdu language. The Pakistan came into existence due to restless efforts of Quaid-e-Azam (the great leader) Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Muhammad Ali Jinnah proved to be a great leader and his name has been written in golden words in the history of Pakistan. 14th August is a public day of dedication and pride for the people throughout Pakistan and celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion among the nation. The main celebrations of this day are flag hoisting, singing patriotic songs, tributes to the national heroes and cultural activities. The importance of this day lies in paying tribute to the lost heroes and in raising the hopes for a bright future. All children and girls feel happy and filled with emotion on this day. They participate in events and express feelings. Being a Pakistani we must celebrate 14th August by thanking to All Mighty Allah for giving this homeland after immense sacrifices. Happy Independence Day To Whole Nation! Team Sheher Saaz  

Read More ⟶
August 14, 2016 No Comments

Stakeholder Consultations for the Visioning of NEC in Punjab

A team from the Urban Unit with Frost and Sullivan the new city planning consultant conducted a Consultative Session with Academia as a Stakeholder through School of Architecture and Planning Seminar Platform on the project planning component: “Stakeholder Consultations” for the visioning of New Economic City in Punjab, led by the consultant firm as part of their pre-feasibility studies for the New Economic City. Background: A government of Punjab has initiated studies for a new urban development on world class standards along Motorway M2 corridor near Lillah Interchange as a possible site. The city would cover 600 sq. Km of land area offering diverse work-live-leisure opportunities. The initiative is expected to capitalize on potential opportunities offered under the CPEC’s long term goals to grow business and trade with china and the CISs in addition to boost domestic commerce within and between provinces based on the immense potential of urbanization and economic growth in Punjab. Khurram Farid Bargatt Principal Planner and Mr Wasim Shahid Malik, Energy Rating Specialist represented Sheher Saaz (Pvt) and gave their opinion and suggestions at this session.

Read More ⟶
July 20, 2016 No Comments

Internship Opportunities

  ⁠⁠⁠Internship Opportunities Sheher Saaz (Pvt) Ltd, established in 1997 is a chartered architecture and urban planning consultancy firm with offices in Lahore, London and Jhelum. Sheher Saaz with diverse experience in local and international market offer specialized services in architecture, urban planning, community development and environmental management. Pakistan since its creation has gone through various problems such as poor governance, lack of policy making, inadequacy of planning framework and consumer amnesia to change and adopt sustainable measure for our cities. This summer Sheher Saaz is planning to engage enthusiastic internees in order to promote its activities and also provide them first step towards their practical and professional training. Who Can Apply? Final year / semester students of Bachelors and Masters studies with following background can apply for this year internship program. -City and Regional Planning, Architecture, GIS, Public Policy, Law, Sociology, Marketing, Finance and Economics. Expected work areas • Master planning of union council, an approach to address issues at gross root level: • Development of District and Tehsil level social and economic sector profile. A practical guide for policy makers to use them for budgeting and resource allocation. • Development of Terms of Reference TOR, Business Proposal development; A tool every professional should know in order to excel in their career. • Transportation planning research studies on Lahore’s BRT and Orange line, urban governance issues, social justice, slum up-gradation are some of key areas. Application Deadline All interested should send their resumes and portfolios at this email shehersaaz@gmail.com not later than 30th June. Web: shehersaaz.com Address: 21 Dyal Singh Mansion 57 The Mall Lahore. Phone: 042 – 3732 3932

Read More ⟶
June 18, 2016 No Comments

A Cultural Evening and Mehfil-e-Saif-al-Malook at Jhelum

A “Cultural Evening & Mehfil-e-Saif-al-Malook” on On 5th of June 2016 at Jhelum. Sheher Saaz & Mian Muhammad Bukhsh Trust MMBT organize a Saif-ul-Malook conference every year, in Lahore, Jhelum, and/or London. Trust is dedicated to promote the Punjabi language and develop a resource center about the life of legendary Sufi Poet, Mian Muhammad Bukhsh. By organizing mehfils, or gatherings, on Punjabi poetry, the Trust envisions to encourage a sense of community and empower identity in the region. Mian Muhammad Bukhsh Trust is an independent not-for-profit organization to provides basic Health & Education facilities with a focus on community development in rural areas. Mian Muhammad Bukhsh is a registered charity in Pakistan, Canada, and United Kingdom. For more details on Trust activities and donations visit www.bukhsh.org A visit to “Kala Pind” is a must-see if you are traveling from other cities. It’s a master creation of Commandant of COD Kala. There is a need for special permission to visit Pind. Please coordinate with hosts to make necessary arrangements.

Read More ⟶
June 1, 2016 No Comments

Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) and Challenges for Pakistan

In the post SDG scenario, the world’s development direction is much steered towards sustainable development and sustainability. Cities are major contributors to the achievement of sustainable development besides currently being blamed for global environmental concerns. Cities consume the energy of various forms which is mainly coming from non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels. Renewable sources, such as solar, wind, biomass, improved fuels like ethanol, and biodiesel are important means which can be utilized to meet the energy demands and creating a sustainable world. Cities have buildings of various kinds which have a significant impact on energy use and the environment. For example, Commercial and residential buildings use almost 40% of the primary energy. The energy used by the building sector continues to increase, primarily because new buildings are constructed faster than old ones are retired. Energy conservation in buildings results in environmental saving. The modern experience in energy saving is through net-zero energy building (NZEB) which is a residential or commercial building with greatly reduced energy needs. In such a building, efficiency gains have been made such that the balance of energy needs can be supplied with renewable energy technologies. The country is located at a good solar elevation angle for Photovoltaics (PV) and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) applications throughout the year. The potential of Pakistan’s solar irradiance for example is one of its kind opportunity for urban Pakistan. Recognizing this very need for ensuring sustainability and the role of cities in energy conservation, SheherSaaz (Pvt.) Ltd. is organizing a Lecture on Net Zero Energy Buildings. Mr. Waseem  Shahid Malik is a renowned renewable energy expert having vast experience in renewable technologies. He has special expertise in the creation of NZEB in Europe and the Middle East. Venue: Sheher Saaz (Pvt) Ltd 21 Deyal Singh Mansion, 57 The Mall, Lahore Date: 20th May 2016 Time: 17:30 – 19-30 Due to limited seats, an email confirmation is required.  Email at shehersaaz@gmail.com Tel: 042-37323932 Waseem Shahid Malik 25 years experience in the field of design, development, research, training, project management, and analysis of various energy efficiency, solar PV, heat pumps and micro CSP integrated energy projects. My expertise includes Solar Resource Assessment, EIA, Feasibility Studies, Energy modeling (domestic, commercial & industrial), energy audits, energy management, energy monitoring, and energy efficiency.He has extensive working experience in the field of BMS, Energy Efficiency, Solar PV grid, off-grid, large scale PV applications, developed solutions to reduce carbon footprint in the built environment, industrial process, PVPS design, solar-based water pumps, and net-zero energy buildings project development providing consultancy and advisory services about Eco Asset Management and Energy Efficiency Financing to various private entrepreneurs, corporations, semi Governments, utility companies, universities and initiated much need-based research projects.

Read More ⟶
May 16, 2016 No Comments

Masdar/MIT solar cell makes a grab for a world record with 35% efficiency and lower cost

A joint effort between MIT and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology may have cracked the code on one of the biggest challenges in moving forward with solar technology. As the cost of solar power technology drops, meeting and even dipping below the price of fossil fuel energy, researchers continue to look for ways to improve efficiency while bringing the cost down even more so that solar power can someday eclipse fossil fuel usage on a global scale. The Masdar Institute-MIT breakthrough involves a two-layered solar cell designed as a “step cell” that increase conversion of solar energy, but at a much lower cost than existing multilayered solar technology.   The newly developed solar cell represents big potential in the clean energy industry. Its theoretical efficiencies are above 40 percent and the team estimates its practical efficiencies at 35 percent. The current world record holder for solar efficiency registers just 24.1 percent by comparison, so the new two-layer solar cell could give the industry a run for its money. As such, Masdar Institute’s Ammar Nayfeh, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and MIT’s Eugene Fitzgerald, the Merton C. Flemings-SMA Professor of Materials Science and Engineering (the research team’s principal investigators) have founded a startup company to commercialize the technology.   The Masdar Institute-MIT solar cell is unique, because it layers the typical low-cost silicon solar cellwith a gallium arsenide phosphide-based solar cell, which is capable of higher energy conversion rates thanks to its semiconductor material. The result is, essentially, the best of both worlds, conquering significantly higher efficiency than existing technology for a much lower production cost. Its developers envision the new device as an efficiency-boosting component for industrial applications, which could translate into a major boost in the percentage of the world’s electricity generation mix. Via MIT Images via Shutterstock and Tahra Al Hammadi/Masdar Institute News  

Read More ⟶
March 29, 2016 No Comments

Mini Holland Commonplaces

Mini Holland Commonplaces Waltham Forest Council was awarded £27 million by Transport for London for the Mini-Holland Programme. The program will transform the borough, making it more cycle-friendly, and encourage more people to take up cycling and walking. Amy Priestley from the Waltham Forest Mini Holland team talks about her experience with the programme, and the benefits of using Commonplace to engage local people. Visit the Mini Holland website for more information.

Read More ⟶
February 28, 2016 No Comments

Mere Makan Main Dukan

  After the deadly floods and earthquakes, more than two third Pakistanis were in urgent need of assistance. Homelessness are continuing threats to the victims of these disasters. The scope of destruction is so wide that instead of huge international donations and governmental efforts for relief and reconstruction, the situation is not healing effectively and the gap is enlarging day by day between supply and demand of houses.The Central Bank statistics revealed that now there is a total shortage of  8.8 million houses and 700,000 houses/year must be provided to cope with the increasing demand. . Especially for low-income households, there is a dearth of financial resources to build/renovate damaged and destroyed houses; this is worsened by the fact that non-sustainable methods and materials that are used continue to be vulnerable in future disasters. There is an urgent need in Pakistan towards innovative housing strategies including financial and technical assistance programs.   Project is aimed to fulfill the requirements and needs of low-income housing groups, with the durability in disasters. An affordable house design methodology was used to design alternatives of low income housing in order to minimize cost and environment impact while maximizing the entrepreneurship, self help and community development.   Project site is located in Sialkot comprising on total land area 21760 Square Feet (4 kanals), the master plan and house designs have been prepared with great consideration of locals and keeping in view their demands. Houses are designed in such a way that they will provide not only shelter but also will become source of income. We are looking sponsors to help poor and needy in Sialkot area to provide them shelters. The main features of Project are: 1. Affordable Housing especially for low-income 2. Eradication of poverty through Entrepreneurship activities with in house 3. House designs that will improve health conditions  4. Women empowerment through home based working areas 5.Flood resistant and energy efficient designed houses   Please send your donations to: Account no. 4400663884881221, Account title: Muhammad Tariq Bank of America USA      

Read More ⟶
February 13, 2016 No Comments

Salt Range is no one’s fiefdom

Salt Range is no one’s fiefdom By Ayaz Amir This range of hills and verdant valleys is a slice of paradise, as perfect as the Greek mountains where the gods feasted. Anywhere else this would be a protected area, considered sacred, and any attempt to despoil its divinely-gifted beauty would be considered the height of sacrilege. But who’ll appreciate beauty here? Here walk no Pericles or other builders of the Parthenon. It’s our luck to have rulers and decision-makers who haven’t read a book in their lives and near whom anything resembling culture and good sense has never passed. We say we are successors to the Mughals. Of Mughal grace and aesthetics we have inherited nothing. That is why the Salt Range and its many offshoots such as Kahoon where Choa Saidan Shah is located and Wanhar which is the plateau beyond Kallar Kahar (if you are coming from Islamabad) instead of being protected, let alone honoured, are under threat of massive assault. Nay, the threat is no longer notional. It has already happened and is being carried even further because the capitalist class when it looks at the Salt Range can see not its timeless magnificence but the prospect of extracting its limestone and clay, and reaching for its underground water resources, and turning all this into cement. The devout in times gone by built a temple to the Lord Shiva at Katas. Our capitalists would raise a monument to cement, for that is their deity. Gen Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz between them, with no small help from the then Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi, allowed three mega-cement plants to be set up in the small stretch of territory between Katas and Khairpur. These plants produce 18-25 thousand tons of cement every single day. Imagine the amount of clay, limestone and water that go into this huge production. Imagine the effect of this depredation on the hills which have stood here since the world was first created. When the extractors have done their job, when the limestone has been pulled out, what remains is lifeless earth, dead for all practical purposes, capable of producing nothing, of no use to man, beast or bird. And as if this rape of Kahoon which began with the blessings of Gen Musharraf and his carpetbagger prime minister wasn’t enough, the government of the great Khadim-e-Aala has set aside a vast tract of land in Wanhar, right next to the village of Buchal Kalan, for another giant cement plant to be run by a Karachi-based company which is already a big name in the cement business. A word about cement – it is a necessary evil, you need it to build. For dams, bridges and flyovers you can’t do without it. But what is happening in Pakistan is a slightly different story. We are surplus in cement production, producing far beyond our needs. Not just one China-Pakistan corridor but several more and we have cement enough for them. So what we are doing is that we are exporting cement. We are ravaging our own landscape – destroying it utterly – for the greater good of India and Afghanistan. And because there are easy profits in this trade and the Motorway has made access to the Salt Range easy, seths and tycoons sitting in Karachi and Lahore, and even London – for two of the Kahoon plants are London-owned – salivate at the mouth when they look at the limestone hills of the Salt Range. And because they have contacts and are great at lobbying and there are big bucks to be made, and distributed, the crazy governments we have, devoid of culture and ideas, give further grants of land for cement plants which Pakistan – I emphasise again – does not need. For the company’s owners the beauty of the Salt Range means nothing. The attachment of small farmers – and in Wanhar we only have subsistence farming – to their land means nothing. If farmers were to surrender their land willingly that would be another matter. But the inhabitants of Buchal Kalan want to sell not half-an-acre, not a kanal, not one marla of their land, which has come down to them from generation to generation. The government of the Khadim-e-Aala has other ideas. It is bringing pressure to bear on the local population. And soon that most enduring legacy of the Raj, the Land Acquisition Act 1894 (yes, 1894), may be put into effect and with the might of the state the farmers will be dispossessed, so that their lordships of Karachi who have no emotional tie to this land can fill their pockets a bit more and pass on the benefits of this ‘development’, it bears repeating, to the great republics of India and Afghanistan. As cruel jokes go, what can be crueller than this? But, we will be smoothly assured, environmental impact assessments have been carried out and they all say, cross my heart, that there will be no adverse impact on the environment. There are many pious frauds in this country, much make-believe and con artistry, but there is no greater eyewash than these assessments, and the work in general of the Environment Protection Agency. The redoubtable Khadim-e-Aala can take a steamroller through the heart of Lahore and the environment guys can be trusted to declare that no harm has been caused. Half the trees on the Canal Bank road can be cut and with a straight face the guardians of the environment will say that for each tree cut a hundred will be planted. And the courts, bless them, will buy this argument. Furthermore, however dodgy a scheme local facilitators are not hard to find. The British got local facilitators for the conquest of India, and this is just a cement plant. In Musharraf’s time the local facilitator was the then district nazim. This time it is Malik Muhammad Aslam, father of provincial minister Tanveer Aslam. He should have been the first to stand against the plant.

Read More ⟶
December 29, 2015 No Comments

How Smart City Barcelona Brought the Internet of Things to Life

Cities around the world are beginning to understand the huge potential of the Internet of Things (IoT). In Barcelona, those possibilities have started to become the reality. Starting in 2012, the city deployed responsive technologies across urban systems including public transit, parking, street lighting, and waste management. These innovations yielded significant cost savings, improved the quality of life for residents, and made the city a center for the young IoT industry. Spain was among the countries hardest hit by the 2008 recession, and recovery throughout Europe has been slow. In the face of these economic challenges, Barcelona harnessed technology to transform itself into a model of data-driven, sensing, smart urban systems.  Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona from 2011 to 2015, ran on a platform of technological innovation in city services. Upon taking office, he formed a new team, Smart City Barcelona, tasked with integrating existing projects and identifying new opportunities to enhance services for all of the city’s people and businesses. Smart City Barcelona identified 12 areas for intervention, including transportation, water, energy, waste, and open government, and initiated 22 programs, encompassing 83 distinct projects across urban systems. In launching its IoT program, Barcelona had a solid foundation: the projects took advantage of 500 kilometers of fiber optic cable within the city. This extensive network was initiated 30 years ago when the city connected two municipal buildings with early fiber technology. The fiber network now provides 90 percent fiber-to-the-home coverage and serves as a backbone for integrated city systems. The fiber network serves as a direct link to the Internet for the Barcelona’s residents and visitors. The city draws on the fiber infrastructure to provide citywide WiFi. Since 2013, the number of hotspots is up 62 percent to 670 WiFi hotspots at a maximum distance of 100 meters from point to point, and the number of WiFi users has doubled. Barcelona has also used this extensive fiber network to build out individual IoT systems across urban services. To improve energy efficiency, the city installed 19,500 smart meters that monitor and optimize energy consumption in targeted areas of the city. In waste management, households deposit waste in municipal smart bins that monitor waste levels and optimize collection routes. These sensors can be further enhanced, and plans have been developed to integrate sensing for hazardous or offensive waste material. In transportation, Barcelona has pursued a multi-modal strategy, advancing the use of electric cars and bike-sharing, while investing heavily in improving the bus and parking systems. The new digital bus stops turn to wait for buses into an interactive experience, with updates on bus location, USB charging stations, free WiFi, and tools to help riders download apps to help them learn more about the city. For drivers, Barcelona has implemented a sensor system that guides them to available parking spaces. The sensors, embedded in the asphalt, can sense whether or not a vehicle is parked in a given location. By directing drivers to open spaces, the program has reduced congestion and emissions. The application that drivers use to locate parking—ApparkB—also allows them to pay for parking online. Within a year of implementation, the city was issuing 4,000 parking permits per day through the application. The city simultaneously pursued the implementation of the Barcelona Lighting Masterplan, published in 2012, which uses smart technologies to enhance the efficiency and utility of city lampposts. By 2014, more than1,100 lampposts had been transitioned to LED, reducing energy consumption. The lampposts sense when pedestrians are nearby; when the streets are empty, lights automatically dim to further conserve energy. The lampposts are also part of the city’s WiFi network, providing consistent, free Internet access throughout the city. Moreover, they are equipped with sensors that collect data on air quality, relaying information to city agencies and the public. Cumulatively, the improvements produced 30 percent energy savings across the urban lighting system. In order to maximize the efficiency of the city’s parks, Barcelona has implemented IoT technologies to remotely sense and control park irrigation and water levels in public fountains. Using sensors to monitor rain and humidity, park workers can determine how much irrigation is needed in each area. A system of electrovalves is then remotely controlled to deliver necessary water across the city. The program, implemented in 68 percent of public parks, helped the city achieve a 25 percent increase in water conservation, for savings of approximately $555,000 per year. Together, these systems constitute a “network of networks,” generating data that can be used by city agencies to improve city operations and by citizens seeking to better understand their local environment. Barcelona’s integrated sensor network is relayed through Sentilo, a platform developed specifically for the city, which is now open-source and available for reuse by other governments. Through this platform, data is managed and shared with citizens and city workers. In order to facilitate citizen access, the city developed 44 kiosks where residents can find information, access services, and make requests to the government. Already, these improvements have saved the city money and reduced the consumption of valuable energy and water. Barcelona estimates that IoT systems have helped save $58 million on water, increased parking revenues by $50 million per year, and generated 47,000 new jobs. Through smart lighting, the city reports saving an additional $37 million annually. To capitalize on the energy around the city’s IoT projects, Barcelona has actively fostered its local technology industry. With $230 million in public funds, the city redeveloped an industrial area to create 22@Barcelona, where startups are putting public data to use in new applications and developing IoT technologies. Among these startups is thethings.io, which aims to become the primary service provider for the IoT world. Some of these homegrown companies are already starting to find market success. One 22@Barcelona resident, Worldsensing, developed an in-ground parking sensor that cities can use to manage citizen parking. Barcelona piloted the tool, Fastprk, in the 22@Barcelona district, helping the product evolve through a real-world implementation. While Barcelona ultimately purchased a different tool for broader implementation,

Read More ⟶
October 11, 2015 No Comments

Affordable Housing Dialogue Recap

On the 6th of May 2016, Sheher Saaz (Pvt) Ltd organized a dialogue on affordable housing at its office on Mall Road Lahore. Sheher Saaz is a multidisciplinary architecture, planning, and engineering design consultancy firm working since 1998. Sheher Saaz with offices in London, Toronto, Lahore, and Jhelum has extensively worked on physical, social, economic, and environmental issues that cities are facing. Affordable Housing Dialogue was attended by architects, planners, academicians, engineers, environmentalists, and students. Few participants traveled all the way from Toronto and Islamabad. Mr. Khurram Farid, Principal Planner at Sheher Saaz started the dialogue by giving an overview of the current housing crisis and issues of the low-income housing sector being faced in the country. He also mentioned that countries like India and Egypt are successfully addressing this issue through different schemes funded by respective governments. Dr. Fariha Tariq, Head of Department of City and Regional Planning at University of Management and Technology Lahore, explained different initiatives adopted by the governments and also problems being faced by this sector. Dr Tariq Habib Malik from Toronto emphasized that due to lack of housing finance it is almost impossible to address this vital issue. He further explained that getting loans from banks is almost impossible for low income group on account of higher interest rates. Emma Ahmad from Ansaar Management Company (AMC) briefed that how AMC is working on provision of affordable housing to the low income groups. She emphasized that there is need to change planning regulations in context with affordable housing. Ms Sana Malik Architect told the house how Malaysian Government is managing this issue in Malaysia and she also talked on the issues of formal and informal affordable housing in Pakistan. Mr. Naveed ul Haq from Ellan consultancy explained his experience while working with KPK Government. Mr. Asad Jan from Urban Unit explained affordability is not clear in Pakistani context. Mr. Muhammad Shoaib from Urban Unit highlighted that in Pakistan we are yet relying on 1998 census and national housing policy which was derived in 2001. Since under the 18th Amendment, housing is a provincial subject, none of the provincial governments in Pakistan have formulated the provincial housing policy and in the absence of any such policy, affordable housing is unlikely to be achieved. Ahmad Masood from NESPAK raised the issue of coordination between various planning and implementing departments. Mr. Muthair Awan explained that how through Public Private Partnership we can deal affordable housing. Dr Atif Billal Aslam from UET Lahore explained the land speculation as a big hurdle in making housing affordable. In the end President of Institute of Planners Pakistan (IPP), Mr. Aslam Mughal summed up the dialogue and gave the way forward by raising four key areas which need further deliberations and study. Accordingly, four working groups are formulated. He said, housing finance, planning standards, land speculations and rental housing will be researched and finding will be put to the next dialogue scheduled on Friday 1st of June 2016. The findings and recommendations will be shared with the government in formulating the policy and plan in this regard, he maintained.

Read More ⟶
September 25, 2015 No Comments

The Monastery of St. Simon the Tanner

The Monastery of St. Simon (Simeon) the Tannerby LaraIskander Saint Simon the Tanner (St. Sama’an, in Arabic) lived towards the end of the tenth century when Egypt was ruled by the Fatimid Caliph, Al- Muizz and Anba Abram was the Coptic Pope. At the time, the Copts (Christians) in Egypt were engaged in handicrafts. St Simon worked in one of the crafts widespread in Babylon (Old Cairo) which was tanning, a craft still known there till this day. This profession involved also other crafts that depend on the process, from where he carried several titles related to skins; St Simon the Tanner, the Cobber, the Shoemaker. The Monastery, located on the opposite side of the road leading to the Citadel contains seven Churches and Chapels hidden in a series of caves in the Mokattam (Muqattam) hills. The Monastery was erected and dedicated to him a thousand years after his miracle and his death. It lies behind “Mansheiyet Nasser”, the Zabbalin village (garbage collectors). This village was erratically established in 1969 when the Governor decided to move all the garbage collectors of Cairo to one of the hills of the Mokattam. There, they built themselves primitive houses of tin. The number of trash collectors living in the area reached about 15.000 in 1987. This number has doubled now. Reaching the monastery is quite a difficult approach. Amazingly, the people there will point you in the right direction knowing your destination without even been asked. The Monastery is reached through the narrow village streets, trash carts passing you by along with piles of rubbish, plastics, and tins on the sides of the alleys with people sorting them out. Even if described in detail, the Zabbalin village is a hard place to picture, far from one’s imagination; it can only be grasped on site. At the far end of the village, awaits you an unexpected, stunning place; a vast open space lying in the bosom of the hills, with dramatic colored carvings all over the mountain. The carvings were done by a Polish Artist who begun working there several years ago. They represent stories from the Bible such as the Holy Family journey and the Nativity scene. The main Cathedral there is named after the Virgin Mary and St Simon in commemoration of the legend of transferring the Mokattam Mountain in November 979 when Simon the Tanner was chosen to fulfill this miracle According to Coptic sayings, the Caliph Al Muizz, an enlightened man, was fond of literacy gatherings and inviting different religious leaders to debate in his presence with neither anger nor contention. In one of those meetings in which Pope Abram and a Jew named Jacob Ibn Killis were present, the Pope got the upper hand in the debate. Plotting to take revenge, Ibn Killis quoted the verse where the Lord Jesus said in Mt 17:20: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to the mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move, nothing will be impossible for you” and demanded him to prove that his religion is right by means of this. The Caliph saw in this an opportunity to remove the mountain that was spoiling his view. At the same time, if they proved unable to do so, it would be proof that the religion of the Christians was wrong and he would be done away with them completely or so goes the Legend. Left: Interior view of the Virgin Mary; Right: St Simon the tanner Cathedral showing the projection screen. And so, after 3 days of prayers and fasts by the people throughout the land of Egypt, Simon was chosen to move the Mokattam Mountain. It is said that a great earthquake swept over the mountain. Each time the people stood up to worship, the mountain was thrust up and the sun would be seen from under it. When the people sat down, the mountain thrust down. This was repeated three times. St Simon was never found afterward. His skeleton was discovered in 1991 in Babylon in St Mary’s church (the Hanging Church). The Virgin Mary and St Simon Cathedral was constructed in 2 stages. At first, it was only a huge cave of limestone in the bosom of the hill. The audience was seated on straw rugs around the alter which was prepared in 1986. The 2nd stage was in November 1994 which falls on the feast of St Simon. The church was reconstructed and the ground was deepened once more. Fixed seats were constructed around the altar in the form of a quarter-circle auditorium to accommodate up to five thousand people and thus it became the biggest church in the Monastery. Left: An engraved figure of the Virgin Mary and Christ found on the ceiling near the alter;Right: Exterior view of the Virgin Mary and St Simon’s Cathedral. To the right side of the altar, the church keeps the remains of St Simon’s body. In the year 1974, upon the ceiling and to the right side of the altar, an obvious engraved figure of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus Christ was discovered, not touched by any human hand. It was later revised in the year 1994. Another amazing Chapel in the Monastery is St Bola’s Church, named after St Bola the first Pilgrim for virtues he possessed. He lived in caves and solitude for 70 years during which he never set eyes upon a human face. The Chapel cave was discovered in 1986 by pure coincidence during construction works when a huge rock fell showing an opening in the ceiling of the cave and thus, the church location was decided An astonishing story about this church took place in January 1992 when it was endangered by a fire caused by an electric spark. The picture of Jesus Christ hanging in the church and the alter were by no means destroyed even though the whole interior of the cave was damaged. A third church of the

Read More ⟶
August 8, 2015 No Comments

Net Zero Energy Buildings and Challenges for Pakistan Recap

A lecture was organized on the 20th of May 2016 at Sheher Saaz Lahore office on “Net Zero Energy Buildings and challenges for Pakistan”, in which Mr. Waseem Shahid Malik an expert on renewable energy gave his presentation on the subject. Ms. Huma Beg also gave a presentation on green architecture and showed her her own projects made of straw-bale and examples around the world. She emphasized that staw-bale can be the cheapest and efficient way of building homes for the poor and needy in the country. She also mentioned by using straw-bale modern luxury homes can also be built. Dr. Riaz Akbar from Canada(on Skype) also gave his point of view on green architecture and asked the house to find gaps and the way forward. In reply, Ms. Hume told that in order to proceed all we need to do is make a forum of like-minded people who are keen to work on green architecture and start taking action. Mr. Waseem in his presentation described the practices of Net Zero Energy Buildings around the world. He also explained how the middle east has scrapped all new housing projects and asked the developers to follow a new protocol on Net Zero Energy Buildings. Mr. Waseem explained how to calculate the needs and requirements of the energy of a house and how to incorporate them into the design. In his statement, he also said that Chinese vendors have made the Pakistani market a junkyard for their products. There are no rules and regulations to check the quality of imported items in the country. He also suggested that there should be a hotline in order to check the quality and report malpractices in this sector. This lecture was attended by the architects, planners, students, representatives from the society, developers, and academicians from Lahore and Islamabad.  Among participants were, Mr. Mushtaq Hussain Bargatt Chairman MMBT, Dr. Sohail Qureshi, Expert on Solar Energy,  Dr. Javed Iqbal DG EPA, Rizwan ur Rehman Planner, Nadeem Khursid Planner, Mohammad Shoaib Planner, Ali Haider, Syed Ejaz Hussain, Muhammad Zubair Planner DHA. Maryam Akam Electrical Eng. Saad Awan Student CS, Khaleeq Ahmad contractor, Eng Ateeq Ahmad, Eng Hassan Javed. Arch Ayesha Batool, Yasir Naseem, Arch Ayesha Farooq, Planner Affaq Butt, Ms. Huma Beg, Mr. Waseem Malik, and Mr. Khurram Farid. Dr. Riaz Akbar from Canada on video conference also participated.

Read More ⟶
July 23, 2015 No Comments

Lecture on Historic Buildings Conservation

A lecture on the conservation of Historic Buildings of Lahore was organized by Architect Ayesha Batool at Sheher Saaz Lahore office. In which students and teachers of architecture participated with great interest. Mr. Sajjad explained the process and difficulties he faced during the restoration of ”Tollinton Market” Lahore.

Read More ⟶
May 8, 2015 No Comments

Sheher Saaz: Investors in People

Sheher Saaz arranges regular training and skill enhancement courses for its employees and associates to best utilize the human capital whenever wherever needed. Our strength is our employees and associates and we always invest in our people.

Read More ⟶
March 30, 2015 No Comments

Pakistan Urban Forum

The 3rd Pakistan Urban Forum, with the theme “Reimagining Pakistan’s Cities for the 21st Century”, is an opportunity to bring together participants from Pakistan and abroad who are seeking a better urban future, including government officials, urban sector experts, public and private sector professionals, development agencies, non-governmental and grassroots organizations, academics, and students. The Forum will serve as a participatory platform to continue the conversation on urbanization, urban policy, and planning in Pakistan, and to highlight best practices from around the world. We seek to assemble diverse examples of research, urban planning, and management practices to call forth sensible policy, equitable urban development, and environmental consciousness amongst Pakistan’s citizenry.

Read More ⟶
February 17, 2015 No Comments

Saif-ul-Malook Conference

Mian Muhammad Bukhsh Trust and Sheher Saaz are organizing the ”Saif-ul-Malook Conference” on the 5th of June 2016. Mushtaq Hussain Bargatt Chairman of the Trust, Dr. Tariq Aziz Vice Chairman of the Trust, and Mr. Khurram Farid Managing Director of Sheher Saaz along with team members finalized the program.

Read More ⟶
January 10, 2015 No Comments

Categories

Recommended Articles​​

Subscribe to our news

Find out about the last days and the latest promotions of our Corporation
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Whatsapp

Tags

Tags
Affordable housing Architecture Aslam Mughal Ayesha Batool Bukhsh Hospital Construction Supervision CPEC Dhanyala Energy Efficient Building Design Habitat III housing finance Institute of Planners Pakistan INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS Internet of Things Internship at Lahore IPP Islamabad KHURRAM FARID BARGATT Lahore London low cost housing Master Planning Mian Muhammad Bukhsh Trust Mr. Khurram Farid Bargatt National Housing Policies Net Zero Energy Buildings NZEB Pakistan PCATP Sheher Saaz shehersaaz.com Sheher Saaz Chartered Town Planners smart cities Sustainable Cities Sustainable Development Goals Sustainable Housing The New Urban Agenda URBAN DESIGN Urbanization urban mobility urban planning URBAN PLANNING PROJECTS Urban Poverty Urban Unit Waseem Shahid Malik World Town Planning Day

Calendar

March 2025
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
Linkedin Twitter Youtube Facebook Instagram

Useful Links

  • Services
  • Projects
  • Contact Us
  • News & Media

Subscribe Now

Don’t miss our future updates! Get Subscribed Today!

© 2025 Sheher Saaz | All rights reserved
Sheher Saaz

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Schedule an Appointment