Day: July 18, 2026

Karachi: Pakistan marked a significant milestone in its campaign against extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence as leading religious scholars and spiritual leaders from all schools of thought offered Maghrib prayers behind a single Imam at Jamia Tur Rasheed, Karachi, in an unprecedented demonstration of religious harmony and national unity.

This historic demonstration was observed during an official visit to Jamia Tur Rasheed, organized by the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee and brought together eminent Ulema and Mashaikh, representatives of major religious seminaries and leaders from different faith communities.

The congregation is being regarded as the first of its kind in Pakistan’s history, where scholars representing all schools of Islamic thought assembled at a leading religious institution to offer congregational prayers behind one Imam, sending a strong message of unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Among those who attended the event were Prime Minister’s Coordinator for the National
Paigham-e-Aman Committee and Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Allama Arif Wahidi, Allama Muhammad Hussain Akbar, Mufti Abdul Rahim, Allama Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Mufti Muhammad Karim Khan, Dr. Asif Mir, Mufti Yousaf Kashmiri, Allama Tauqir Abbas, Allama Asad Zaidi, Hafiz Maqbool Ahmed, and representatives of various federations of religious seminaries.

Addressing the media, Ashrafi described the occasion as a historic achievement in promoting religious harmony in Pakistan.

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, the day we had long awaited has finally arrived. We wished to see Muslims in Pakistan, just as in the Two Holy Mosques, standing behind one Imam in prayer. Alhamdulillah, this blessed journey has begun from Jamia Tur Rasheed. God willing, the nation will continue to witness such practical manifestations of unity, peace, tolerance and brotherhood,” he said.

He said the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee was committed to implementing the objectives of Paigham-
e-Pakistan by countering extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence while promoting unity, tolerance, mutual respect and national cohesion across the country.

Ashrafi appreciated the participation of scholars and religious leaders from all schools of thought, saying their collective presence reflected a shared commitment to peace, harmony and national solidarity.

Karachi: More than a conventional sustainability workshop, the Executive Programme on Carbon Finance for CEOs brought together Pakistan’s leading corporate executives here at the a local hotel, to examine how climate action can become a driver of business growth, investment and long-term competitiveness.

This was the first of the series of workshops being rolled out by NUST in collaboration with Nutshell Communications and CVF-V20.

The programme was jointly organized by the Iqbal Executive Development Centre (IEDC), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Nutshell Communications, and the Climate Vulnerable Forum and Vulnerable Twenty (CVF-V20), bringing together CEOs, Board members, CFOs and sustainability leaders for a full day of strategic dialogue on emerging opportunities in climate finance and carbon markets.

NUST’s IEDC played a critical role in setting up the whole program in the most effective way while Nutshell communication’s extensive liaison with the corporate sector came handy in gathering the most impressive lineup of CEOs and corporate sustainability leaders. As the knowledge partner, CVF-V20 played a central role in shaping the programme’s content, drawing on its global experience in climate finance, carbon markets and sustainable investment.

The speakers were the most valued experts of carbon credit and carbon finance from Pakistan including Zulfiqar Younas, Senior Advisor Climate Finance, CVF-V20, Ahsan Karmran, Khurram Lalani and Maha Qasim, all leading carbon and ESG experts in Pakistan.

They emphasized that climate change is no longer solely an environmental concern but a strategic business issue influencing investment decisions, access to finance, export competitiveness and corporate governance. They highlighted that companies which respond proactively to the low-carbon transition will be better positioned to attract capital, strengthen resilience and unlock new sources of revenue.

Participants explored the significant opportunities arising from Pakistan’s evolving policy landscape, including the Pakistan Carbon Market Policy, the Pakistan Green Taxonomy, and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) Sustainability Reporting Framework. Together, these reforms are creating an enabling environment for businesses to access green finance, develop carbon credit projects and align with international sustainability standards.

A key highlight of the programme was the special address by Mussarat Jabeen, Executive Director, SECP, who outlined the Commission’s vision for strengthening sustainability reporting and corporate governance. Her remarks reinforced the importance of climate-related disclosures and board-level leadership in preparing Pakistan’s corporate sector for emerging regulatory and market expectations.

The programme also featured an international case study on Shell’s Carbon Finance Strategy, demonstrating how one of the world’s leading energy companies has integrated carbon finance into its business model to support decarbonization, mobilize investment and create long-term enterprise value. The case study illustrated how climate action can evolve from a compliance obligation into a strategic commercial opportunity.

The participants were keenly engaged with leading practitioners in carbon markets and climate finance, examining practical pathways for identifying bankable carbon projects, generating carbon credits, mobilizing green investment and integrating climate considerations into corporate strategy. Interactive discussions and the CEO Strategy Workshop enabled executives to translate policy developments into actionable business plans tailored to their own organizations.

The programme concluded with a clear message: the transition to a low-carbon economy represents one of the most significant business opportunities of the coming decade. Companies that move early to develop climate-smart investments, strengthen sustainability governance and participate in carbon markets will be better positioned to attract finance, enhance competitiveness and create long-term value.

Through initiatives such as this executive programme, CVF-V20 is working with governments, financial institutions and the private sector to accelerate climate investment and expand access to carbon finance across climate-vulnerable economies.

Karachi: Pakistan marked a significant milestone in its campaign against extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence as leading religious scholars and spiritual leaders from all schools of thought offered Maghrib prayers behind a single Imam at Jamia Tur Rasheed, Karachi, in an unprecedented demonstration of religious harmony and national unity.

This historic demonstration was observed during an official visit to Jamia Tur Rasheed, organized by the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee and brought together eminent Ulema and Mashaikh, representatives of major religious seminaries and leaders from different faith communities.

The congregation is being regarded as the first of its kind in Pakistan’s history, where scholars representing all schools of Islamic thought assembled at a leading religious institution to offer congregational prayers behind one Imam, sending a strong message of unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Among those who attended the event were Prime Minister’s Coordinator for the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee and Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Allama Arif Wahidi, Allama Muhammad Hussain Akbar, Mufti Abdul Rahim, Allama Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Mufti Muhammad Karim Khan, Dr. Asif Mir, Mufti Yousaf Kashmiri, Allama Tauqir Abbas, Allama Asad Zaidi, Hafiz Maqbool Ahmed, and representatives of various federations of religious seminaries.

Addressing the media, Ashrafi described the occasion as a historic achievement in promoting religious harmony in Pakistan.

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, the day we had long awaited has finally arrived. We wished to see Muslims in Pakistan, just as in the Two Holy Mosques, standing behind one Imam in prayer. Alhamdulillah, this blessed journey has begun from Jamia Tur Rasheed. God willing, the nation will continue to witness such practical manifestations of unity, peace, tolerance and brotherhood,” he said.

He said the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee was committed to implementing the objectives of Paigham-e-Pakistan by countering extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence while promoting unity, tolerance, mutual respect and national cohesion across the country.

Ashrafi appreciated the participation of scholars and religious leaders from all schools of thought, saying their collective presence reflected a shared commitment to peace, harmony and national solidarity.