Empoweristan

Feb 18

Celebrating 75 years of Pakistan and a GREEN future with women at the heart

Empoweristan, a celebration of 75-years of Pakistan, showcasing recent sustainable innovations led by women with key discussions about building a GREEN future is coming to Granary Square, London in March.

There will also be a series of stalls and interactive displays running over five days from 21 – 25 March, which showcase the best of Pakistani culture and heritage, as well as exhibiting successful green structures and tools being used by rural communities in Pakistan.

The event is being entirely led and delivered by Pakistani women. Working side-by-side with renowned architect, Yasmeen Lari and the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan which she founded, women are being given the means and training to build their own sustainable future.

Yasmeen Lari is Pakistan’s first female architect and winner of the prestigious Jane Drew Prize for women in architecture. She has an established reputation of working on sustainable building projects in Pakistan, from corporate structures to designing low-cost, affordable homes for ordinary people and those in economic hardship.

At age 81, she is truly an inspiration. Yasmeen Lari has developed some unique concepts of zero carbon structures which will be on display over the course of the event. She says: “When people are taught how to improve their situation themselves, it means you empower them to become self-reliant. We need to share our knowledge with other people, to bring that accessibility to them.”

As well as the impressive zero-carbon structure, there will be a spectacular presentation of traditional arts and crafts from across all six provinces of Pakistan, reflecting the richness and diversity of this beautiful country. The structure and displays will be located in Granary Square, Kings Cross London. The Square will be transformed into a pavilion decorated with hand embroidered panels, resembling Mughal tents.

This hands-on project will feature UK based Pakistani and Bangladeshi architecture students, and two rural women from rural Pakistan who will work together to construct a ‘Pakistan Chulah’. This is a smokeless stove, but will be built sustainably, and will be used to make delicious Pakistani rotis which will be shared with the public.

The event is a collaboration with the British Council and the International Network of Traditional Building Architecture and Urbanisation (INTBAU) for which Prince Charles is a patron.

Other partners include the Pakistan High Commission and British Pakistani organisations and businesses.

For more information, visit INTBAU