Karachi, 12 August 2025: Ranked first on the Climate Risk Index 2025 despite contributing less than 0.9 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is bearing disproportionate losses. In 2022 alone, climate-induced disasters inflicted over USD 30 billion in damages, with recovery needs exceeding USD 16.3 billion. Air pollution alone causes over 128,000 premature deaths annually, while productivity in agriculture has declined by 10–20 percent due to climate variability, further straining livelihoods and the economy. Experts warn that Pakistan now requires USD 40–50 billion annually to effectively mitigate and adapt to climate risks.
It is against this stark backdrop that the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) launched its 3rd Pakistan Climate Conference Report, titled “Creating an Enabling Environment for Private Sector Participation in Climate Resilience.” The report underscores the urgency of mobilizing climate finance at scale, with the private sector positioned as a central partner in building resilience.
Speaking at the report launch, Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&E) Aisha Humera Chaudhry said:
“Pakistan’s climate vulnerability is a globally acknowledged reality. But to respond effectively, we must channel substantial and timely climate finance towards local solutions. The role of the private sector, as showcased by OICCI and its member companies, is central to our national climate strategy. We call on international partners to match Pakistan’s climate ambition with significant funding support.”
The economic argument for climate finance is clear. Without urgent decarbonization, Pakistan’s exports face mounting risks under new global trade frameworks, such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Secretary General OICCI M. Abdul Aleem stressed: “Pakistan’s reliance on fossil fuels and carbon-intensive practices puts our exports at risk, especially under frameworks like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Decarbonization and green finance are no longer optional, they are essential to sustaining economic growth and global competitiveness.”
Executive Director SDPI Dr. Abid Suleri reinforced the need for collaborative policy and financing mechanisms: “In the context of eroding Public and grant based Climate Finance, market-based solutions and private sector is not part of problem but an amicable solution to climate crises. Climate catastrophes are not a future concern; it is today’s socioeconomic reality. Pakistan must now move beyond pledges and create an ecosystem where private investment in climate resilience is not only encouraged but enabled through consistent policy, data transparency, and accessible financing instruments.”
President ACCA Ayla Majid emphasized the role of skills and financial expertise in climate action: “Mobilizing climate finance is not just about securing funds, it is about ensuring they are deployed effectively, with transparency and measurable impact. Building the financial, technical, and governance capacities to manage these resources is key to turning commitments into real resilience for Pakistan.”
The 3rd PCC Report outlines actionable pathways in regenerative agriculture, industrial decarbonization, plastic circularity, and carbon market development. It emphasizes that climate funding must be paired with enabling policies and capacity-building to close Pakistan’s climate financing gap.
OICCI, as the only private sector representative from Pakistan at COP28 and COP29, continues to champion public-private partnerships for climate action. The organization has engaged with regulators, including the State Bank of Pakistan and SECP, to advance green taxonomies and ESG reporting frameworks.
