Pakistan's Directions Towards Sustainable Development
Presented By: Group 5
07-10-2025
Agenda
1. What is Sustainable Development? - A Quick
Refresher
2. Why it Matters for Pakistan? - The Urgent
Imperative
3. The National Framework: Vision 2025 & Aligning
with the SDGs
4. Progress & Initiatives: A Deep Dive into Key Areas
➢ Planet: Climate Action & Environmental Protection
➢ People: Social Development & Poverty Alleviation
➢ Prosperity: Economic Growth & Sustainable
Infrastructure
5. The Mountain of Challenges
6. The Way Forward: Key Recommendations
7. Q&A
What is Sustainable Development?
Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
• It’s not just about being "green." It’s an integrated approach.
• The core idea is balance. You cannot have long-term
economic growth on a degraded planet with an unequal
society.
• The global blueprint for this is the UN's 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Why it Matters for Pakistan?
➢ Extreme Vulnerability to Climate Change:
• 5th most climate-affected country (Global Climate Risk Index).
• Devastating floods (2022), melting glaciers, heatwaves, water
scarcity.
➢ Population Pressure:
• Over 240 million people, with a large youth bulge.
• Massive demand for jobs, food, water, and energy.
➢ Resource Scarcity:
• Water stress – moving towards absolute water scarcity.
• Heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels.
➢ Social Challenges:
• Poverty, inequality, and gaps in education and healthcare access.
Conclusion: For Pakistan, sustainable development is not a choice;
it is a national security and survival imperative.
The National Framework:
Vision 2025 & the SDGs
1. Putting People First: Human capital
development.
2. Achieving Sustained, Indigenous, and
Inclusive Growth.
3. Governance & Institutional Reform.
4. Energy, Water & Food Security.
5. Private Sector-Led Entrepreneurship.
6. Developing a Competitive Knowledge
Economy.
7. Modernizing Transportation & Greater
Regional Connectivity.
Vision 2025 &
the SDGs (Cont.)
• Vision 2025 was explicitly
designed to be aligned with the
UN SDGs.
• It provides a domestic roadmap
for achieving sustainable
development targets.
• The planning ministry has the
primary responsibility for SDG
integration and monitoring.
Progress & Initiatives
The "Planet" Pillar The "People" Pillar The "Prosperity" Pillar
(Climate Action & Environmental (Social Development & Poverty (Economic Growth & Sustainable
Protection) Alleviation) Infrastructure)
Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Benazir Income Support China-Pakistan Economic
Programme (TBTTP) Programme (BISP) Corridor (CPEC)
CPEC (Phase-I)
Protected Areas Initiative Ehsaas Program
CPEC (Phase-II)
Clean Green Pakistan Kamyab Jawan Program Renewable Energy Push
National Climate Change
Sehat Sahulat Program Digital Pakistan
Policy & Adaptation
The Mountain of Challenges
The Way Forward:
(Key Recommendations)
Integrated Policy Making:
• "Green" every sector—agriculture, industry, urban planning.
Unlock Climate Finance:
• Aggressively pursue international climate funds and green bonds for
adaptation and mitigation projects.
Strengthen Domestic Resource Mobilization:
• Expand the tax base to fund public services and infrastructure.
Foster Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs):
• Leverage private sector capital and innovation for sustainable projects (e.g., in
waste management, renewable energy).
Prioritize Climate-Resilient Agriculture & Water Management:
• Invest in drip irrigation, drought-resistant crops, and modern water storage.
Decentralize & Empower Local Governments:
• They are best placed to understand and solve local sustainability challenges.
Conclusion
• Pakistan's direction towards sustainable development is clearly articulated in its policies and flagship
initiatives.
• The journey is fraught with immense challenges, but the foundational work has begun.
• The path forward requires unwavering political will, significant investment, technological innovation,
and most importantly, a collective effort from government, private sector, and civil society.
• Achieving sustainability is Pakistan's best chance for a secure, prosperous, and resilient future.
Final Statement
The direction is set. The
momentum is building. The
task ahead is to accelerate the
pace.
Thank you for your engagement. As we've seen, the challenges are significant, but
so is the potential. I am hopeful that with continued dialogue and collective action,
a green, prosperous, and sustainable Pakistan is within our reach. Thank you! I'm
open to your questions.