PESHAWAR: The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have signed a licence and cooperation agreement to strengthen collaboration in green building education, industry-relevant skills development and sustainable growth in Pakistan.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Simon Andrews, IFC director for Pakistan and Prof Muhammad Sadiq Khattak, vice chancellor UET Peshawar, during a signing ceremony held on Friday, in Islamabad.

The partnership will support IFC’s designing for greater efficiencies (DFGE) programme, an academic training initiative that builds practical skills in green building design and resource-efficient construction among university students and faculty members. DFGE is part of IFC’s broader EDGE platform, which prepares future professionals to design buildings that use energy, water and materials more efficiently.

Mr Simon Andrews said the partnership reflects IFC’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s transition toward a more competitive, skills-driven and sustainable economy. “Through the DFGE programme, we are strengthening local capacity in green building design and linking academia with industry. By working with UET Peshawar, we aim to equip young professionals with practical and market-relevant skills that can support climate-smart growth and job creation, he said, adding, this engagement is part of the green and resilient buildings programme supported by the Climate Investment Fund for Pakistan and Foreign and the Commonwealth & Development Office.

Under the agreement, IFC will train UET Peshawar faculty to deliver the DFGE course and provide access to the core course content and the EDGE application.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026