Karachi:The National Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Investment Fair concluded on Wednesday in Karachi, bringing together federal and provincial governments, domestic and international investors, financial institutions, and development partners to explore investment opportunities that can advance Pakistan’s SDG agenda.
Convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Pakistan under the SDGs Plus Programme, the two-day Fair showcased 35 SDG-aligned public-private partnership projects worth approximately US$26 billion to potential investors, said a statement issued here.
Participating institutions included the Sindh Public Private Partnership Unit, the Punjab Public Private Partnership Authority, the Ravi Urban Development Authority, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade, and the Balochistan Public Private Partnership Authority.
Over the two days, project representatives from federal and provincial agencies presented investment cases in transport, climate, agriculture, water and sanitation, tourism, industry, trade, and technology.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, in his online keynote address at the opening session of day two, reflected on the importance of mobilizing investment to advance Pakistan’s development priorities, saying ‘The Fair translates URAAN’s pillars into investable opportunities, bringing government and investors together to accelerate sustainable development through investment across Pakistan.’
Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, Dr. Samuel Rizk, emphasized the importance of sustained engagement to take projects forward and said that the Fair was a platform that demonstrates how well-designed investment opportunities could successfully attract financing and also ensure development impact.
The event also included a high-level panel that explored the role of Pakistan’s capital markets and private sector in mobilizing sustainable investment, moderated by Ms. Van Nguyen. The conversation focused on investment opportunities and private-sector financing, bringing together President of OICCI Umar Ahsan Khan, Director for Sustainability and Climate Change at EY MENA Zehra Aneek, CEO of AKD Securities Farid Alam, and Chief Investment Officer of InfraZamin Amir Masood.
The Fair was formally closed by Mr. Jam Khan Shoro, Sindh Minister of Planning and Development, who underscored the value of stronger collaboration between government and the private sector in ensuring development.
‘Sustainable investment is key to unlocking Sindh’s and Pakistan’s development potential, connecting our projects with the capital and partnerships needed to deliver results in health, WASH, and agriculture,’ he added.