ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) held their second stakeholder consultation session under the ESG Pakistan Project on Wednesday, aimed at aligning Pakistan’s corporate sector with international environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
The session, attended by representatives from capital market institutions, the corporate sector, and professional bodies, followed the initial discussions launched in July 2025 to promote sustainable business practices and investment readiness.
In his keynote address, SECP Chairperson Akif Saeed reaffirmed the regulator’s partnership with IFC and said that ESG reforms are being implemented in a phased and collaborative manner. He noted that initiatives such as the ESG Regulatory Roadmap, Disclosure Guidelines, and ESG Sustain Portal are embedding sustainability and accountability across market practices.
IFC’s Principal Investment Officer, Zunee Muhtashim, said that integrating ESG principles has become essential for companies seeking to attract investment and strengthen their reputation. She added that the ESG Pakistan Project, supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Facility for Investment Climate Advisory (FIAS), is designed to accelerate the implementation of ESG frameworks.
Noman Rosenbaum, representing the FCDO, said ESG-aligned reforms were key to building investor confidence and encouraging sustainable private capital inflows.
A panel discussion moderated by IFC’s Mohsin Ali featured representatives from SECP, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance, and the banking sector. SECP Executive Director Musarat Jabeen said the regulator’s next phase of ESG implementation focuses on measurable corporate practices and strengthening data systems to support compliance and competitiveness.
Panelists agreed on the growing importance of sustainable finance in Pakistan and called for increased public-private cooperation, capacity development, and market-based incentives.
Under the three-year ESG Pakistan Project, IFC will assist SECP in conducting national-level engagement sessions, ESG capacity-building workshops, and impact assessments using data from the ESG Sustain Portal to strengthen Pakistan’s regulatory and sustainability framework.
