By Ar. Humaira Nazir, Assistant Professor Department of Architecture & Environmental Design – SSUET
The Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology Karachi organized the 1st International Conference on “Sustainable and Smart Cities” on August 2 and 3, 2023. Presenters from all over the world shared their experiences and lessons learned from various approaches to the development of sustainable and smart cities. There were a minimum of six technical sessions every day for a total of 12 during the conference.
Sustainable and smart cities are urban areas developed to be advanced in technology, economically successful, and socially inclusive. While reducing adverse effects on the environment and natural resources, these cities work to improve the quality of life for their citizens.
Dr. Mir Shabbar Ali, Dean Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), gave a formal welcome speech. Architect Fazal Noor, Chairperson of the Architecture and Environmental Design Department at SSUET, then gave an overview of the event’s goals. Opening statements were made by Prof. Dr. Vali Uddin, Vice Chancellor of SSUET, and concluding remarks were made by Engr. Syed-Sarfraz Ali, Registrar of SSUET. The Chairman of the Civil Engineering Department, Dr. Muhammad Imran, gave a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the formal opening ceremony.
Architect Prof. Dr. Noman Ahmed, dean of the faculty of architecture and management sciences at NED University, gave the opening speech and shared his knowledge and experiences. The event’s guests of honour were Arch Arif Hasan, Senior Architect and Town Planner, and Engr. Sohail Bashir, Chairman, Intuition of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), Karachi. Prof. Dr. Tariq Rafi, Chairman of the Sindh HEC, and Engr. Farhat Adil, President of the Intuition of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), served as the conference’s chief guests. On the conference’s theme and the way forward, they all shared their views. The chair and co-chairs of the technical sessions were invited from diverse fields of expertise, and they took part in panel talks on a range of topics related to sustainable and smart cities.
Experts, researchers, policymakers, urban planners, technology innovators, and stakeholders from various sectors gathered at this conference to discuss the most recent developments, difficulties, and opportunities in building and transforming cities into sustainable and smart urban environments. A conference of this kind aimed to examine every aspect of smart and sustainable cities, from advances in technology to social inclusion and environmental preservation. Knowledge exchange, where presenters discussed their research results, case studies, and best practises linked to sustainable urban development and smart city technology, was one of the conference’s other main goals.
Additionally, it offered networking opportunities for participants to meet other like-minded individuals, possible collaborators, and thought leaders in the field.
Collaboration with pertinent organisations, academics, governing bodies, and business organisations was carried out to guarantee the conference’s success. Additionally, including digital components-such as opportunities for distant attendance or online presentations-improved accessibility, reached a wider audience, and encouraged worldwide involvement. Each discussion was followed by a Q&A session. The feedback of guests was gathered to improve the next conference.
Additionally, collective meetings were organised, which were attended by delegates from Nepal, and SSUET also signed a memorandum of collaboration with Prof. Dr. Govind Parsad Lamichhane, Professor at the School of Engineering, Pokhara University, Nepal.
