At the heart of F 9 Park, Islamabad, pulsated the Sheher Mela hosted by Shehersaaz in partnership with CDA, UN Habitat, the Adaptation Fund and DHA Islamabad. The Sheher Mela was a deeply immersive celebration of art, culture, science, technology and community voices. Held to mark the sixty fifth anniversary celebrations of Islamabad's Master Plan and World Cities Day 2025, the Mela converted this park into a vibrant canvas of ideas and experiences.

At the hub of the festival was the ECO Market showcasing innovative, green, and smart solutions that spoke to the future of sustainable urban living. The visitors toured electric buses, modern two-wheelers, and environmentally friendly technologies displaying what is possible in a cleaner and smarter Islamabad.



Citizens’ Corner opened an honest space for public expression, where residents shared their story, hopes, concerns and recommendations for their city. Illustrator and caricature artist Akhtar Ali Shah, affectionately termed as Shahtoon, translated these feelings into expressive visual narratives. His caricatures added a creative dimension to the city's collective memory.

Live performances only added to the magic in the air. Ahang Kada played the rhythms of rabab and tabla, while One Drum Circle engaged all with their, well, united beats. The evening concluded with The City Sings Concert, with powerhouse performances by Coke Studio fame Mulazim Hussain, the soulful Hazel Khan, and sitar maestro Amir Hussain.



Islamabad Sheher Mela stood as a testament to Shehersaaz's mission: building cities that are safe, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. It wove culture, creativity, innovation, and community participation together to remind one and all that cities thrive when people come together with imagination, pride, and a shared sense of belonging.

Islamabad was witness to one invigorating morning of dialogue, insight, and urban vision as Shehersaaz, the leading voice for sustainable cities in Pakistan, gathered national leadership, planners, and city thinkers for the Sheher Seminar. Organized in collaboration with CDA, UN Habitat, the Adaptation Fund, and DHA Islamabad, the seminar took place on October 30 and was thoughtfully aligned with the global observance of World Cities Day on October 31. By hosting the seminar a day in advance, Shehersaaz raised the bar on the importance of this occasion and put together a forceful platform to celebrate urban resilience, sustainability, and collective responsibility.



Contributions that further enriched the session were made by Ch. Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Chairman CDA; Jawed Ali Khan, Senior Advisor and HPM UN Habitat; and Ms. Almas Shakoor, Executive Director Shehersaaz. Ms. Shakoor’s vision of resilient citizen-centered cities simply underlined Shehersaaz’s leading role in guiding urban transformation in Pakistan. All put together, the speakers gave a comprehensive overview of Islamabad’s planning direction, its evolving urban landscape, and the collaborative momentum required to shape a sustainable future.



The technical session added immensely to the substance of the seminar. Expert presentations on Islamabad's planning history, its challenges related to environment, spatial growth and climate resilience followed. All these pointed to the importance of long term vision, as championed by Shehersaaz in creating adaptive and future ready cities.



A documentary titled “Islamabad 1960 to 2025. A Journey of 65 Years” introduced an artistic and historical layer in the event, prepared by the PR Directorate CDA. The film served as a visual tribute to Islamabad’s planning heritage and the aspirations that continue to define its growth. More than an anniversary observance, the Sheher Seminar attested to Shehersaaz's leadership in reimagining Pakistani cities. Through informed dialogue, meaningful partnerships, and community engagement, Shehersaaz advances its mission of promoting safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities where knowledge, creativity, and people come together with purpose and vision.

Lahore, 23rd and 24th September, 2025
Shehersaaz proudly participated and was the conference partner at the South Asia Rainwater Network (SARNET) International Conference on Rainwater Harvesting 2025, held in Islamabad, bringing together global experts, policymakers, and practitioners to deliberate on sustainable water management and climate resilience.

The two-day conference, by SARNET in collaboration with Shehersaaz as their major Conference Partners, revolved around the theme “CONSERVING BLUE DIAMONDS Creating Climate Resilience Through Rainwater Conservation & Management”. The event provided a significant platform to exchange experiences and best practices from across South Asia, Central Africa, and the Middle East, focusing on both regional and global perspectives on rainwater conservation.

The inaugural session featured a keynote address by Mr. Han Heijnen, President IRHA, Switzerland, followed by country presentations from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Iran, Malawi, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Experts shared national case studies on traditional practices, innovative technologies, and policy frameworks that are reshaping rainwater harvesting approaches globally.

Representing Shehersaaz, Ms. Anahita Sajjad, Manager Communications and Networking, delivered an insightful presentation titled “Turning Rain into Resilience: Rain Harvesting to Climate Adaptation.” Her talk highlighted Shehersaaz’s ongoing initiatives to implement rainwater harvesting systems in urban and institutional settings, addressing urban flooding, water scarcity, and climate adaptation challenges. She emphasized the organization’s community-driven approach and the integration of nature-based solutions to promote water security across cities in Pakistan.

The conference also featured technical sessions led by UN agencies, I/NGOs, and academia, including discussions on groundwater recharge, rooftop rainwater systems, and youth-led innovations for water management. Delegates collectively called for greater regional collaboration, policy coherence, and capacity-building to mainstream rainwater harvesting into national development and climate strategies.

Concluding with remarks from the Chief Guest and a vote of thanks by Engr. Syed Zaheer Hussain Gardezi, the conference reaffirmed that rainwater harvesting is not merely a conservation practice—it is a pathway to resilience and sustainable urban futures.

Shehersaaz remains committed to advocating for climate-resilient cities and water-secure communities, turning every drop of rain into an opportunity for change.