SECP, IFC Launches ESG Pakistan Project To Advance Sustainable Business Practices

International Finance Corporation (IFC) in collaboration with the SECP has officially launched the ESG Pakistan Project, a three-year initiative aimed at aligning Pakistan’s corporate sectors with international ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jul, 2025) International Finance Corporation (IFC) in collaboration with the SECP has officially launched the ESG Pakistan Project, a three-year initiative aimed at aligning Pakistan’s corporate sectors with international ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards.

The launch was marked by an awareness workshop in Islamabad and attended by key stakeholders from the capital market institutions, corporate sector and professional bodies, said a press release issued here on Wednesday.

Chairperson SECP, Mr. Akif Saeed, in his keynote remarks, emphasized the growing relevance of sustainability for capital markets and the urgent need to embed ESG principles across Pakistan’s business frameworks. "The global shift towards sustainable finance is irreversible.

For a climate-vulnerable country like Pakistan, this transition is not only timely but essential." He added that SECP has made substantial progress over the past three years through the ESG Regulatory Roadmap, ESG Disclosure Guidelines and the launch of the ESG Sustain Portal.

“Incorporating sustainability practices is now a critical priority for businesses, enabling them to strengthen their reputation, improve operational efficiency, attract investment, and drive sustainable growth” said Zeeshan Sheikh, IFC’s Country Manager for Pakistan ans Afghanistan.

“This project, including today’s workshop, aims to accelerate the adoption of international sustainability standards in Pakistan by fostering awareness, building capacity, and supporting the implementation of related regulatory frameworks by drawing on IFC’s global expertise in this field.”

IFC will support SECP through a comprehensive set of interventions including awareness and sector-specific ESG capacity building workshops, development of ESG guidance materials and impact assessment of ESG practices among listed companies using data on ESG Sustain.

SECP and IFC are committed to advancing sustainable finance and strengthening ESG adoption in Pakistan through broad-based stakeholder collaboration.

This project reinforces SECP’s efforts to build a regulatory environment that is transparent, inclusive and aligned with international standards.

The project is being implemented in partnership by the Facility for Investment Climate Advisory Services (FIAS), which supports World Bank Group projects that foster open, productive and competitive markets and unlock private investment in business sectors that contribute to growth and poverty reduction.

The project is also funded by the CIFPAK facility, a climate-related blended finance program, which is managed by IFC in partnership with the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.