Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has emphasised that green productivity is not just an environmental choice; it is an economic necessity for countries like Pakistan.

Speaking at the Asian Productivity Organisation’s (APO) international conference on Green Productivity 2.0, Iqbal stated that by 2035, Pakistan aims to achieve over 6% productivity-driven GDP growth, $100 billion in exports, a 30% reduction in emissions intensity, universal climate-resilient infrastructure, 60% clean energy, two million green and high-tech jobs and full integration into Asian green supply chains. The conference was jointly organised by the LUMS Energy Institute, the National Productivity Organisation Pakistan (NPO) and the Ministry of Industries & Production at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

The two-day event brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, international experts, academics and development practitioners from 21 APO member economies, with more than 80 foreign delegates participating, marking one of Pakistan’s most prominent international forums on sustainable industrial transformation.

Different sessions addressed a wide range of themes, including sustainable architecture and industrial growth, energy efficiency, circular-economy innovation, energy transition, digital productivity tools, green hydrogen applications, green initiatives in power and oil and gas sectors, efficient thin-film photovoltaics, circular plastics solutions and collaborations across the government, academia and industry.

Presentations from experts representing Italy, Japan, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, Vietnam, Pakistan and other APO economies showcased cutting-edge research and applied solutions, shaping the future of green productivity across the region.

Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadiq Malik highlighted the alignment between climate policy and productivity-led growth. He noted, “Pakistan’s energy future depends on cleaner, smarter and more efficient systems. Green productivity provides the pathway to strengthen energy security and national resilience.”

He said that Pakistan’s 17% voluntary Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) commitment reflects the responsibility to safeguard the future of children. “The global shift from multilateralism towards bilateral arrangements has led to a steady decline in multilateral climate financing. This contraction poses significant challenges to countries like Pakistan striving to build a fast-growing green economy,” he added.

Representing parliamentary leadership, MNA and Convener of the Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs Shaista Pervaiz Malik underscored the sustainable development goals (SDG)-aligned development priorities and stated, “Green productivity ensures that economic growth advances alongside environmental responsibility and social well-being. This balance is essential for a sustainable Pakistan.” The APO Secretariat’s perspective was presented by Zainuri Juri, who commended Pakistan’s leadership on the green productivity agenda, noting, “Pakistan, being a steadfast partner of the APO, has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing green productivity, which is exemplary across member economies.”

Reflecting on conference outcomes, LUMS Energy Institute Senior Adviser Dr Fiaz Chaudhry and NPO CEO Alamgir Chaudhry highlighted the importance of collaboration in accelerating sustainable transformation.