CARE Pakistan Convenes Public and Private Sector Leaders to Strengthen Partnerships for Climate Resilience

CARE Pakistan brought together senior leaders from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC), leading corporations and the private sector, international development partners, financial institutions, and civil society at its flagship “Partners for Impact: Building Pakistan’s Future Together”, on 29th June 2026 in Islamabad to strengthen collaboration on Pakistan’s most pressing development priorities: climate resilience and women’s economic empowerment.
The event provided a platform for dialogue and collaboration, highlighting the critical role that partnerships play in addressing complex development challenges. Participants explored how collective action, innovation, financing, and private sector engagement can accelerate sustainable solutions for vulnerable communities across Pakistan.
Opening the event, Mr. Adil Sheraz, Country Director, CARE Pakistan highlighted the importance of multi-sector collaboration in addressing Pakistan’s evolving development landscape and emphasized the need to strengthen partnerships that place communities at the centre of climate action and economic growth.
Mr. Adil stated, “The challenges facing Pakistan today, from climate change to economic inequality, are too complex for any one organization to solve alone. Lasting change happens when governments, businesses, development partners, and communities come together with a shared purpose. Through Partners for Impact, we at CARE Pakistan are creating this platform that moves beyond dialogue and towards collective action, because communities cannot become resilient if half their population is excluded from economic opportunities. Likewise, economic growth cannot be sustainable without addressing the impacts of climate change.”
The event also featured keynote addresses where strong commitment to collective action was emphasised. Mr. Gul Najam Jamy – World Bank, noted, “Addressing climate change, creating jobs, and advancing women’s economic empowerment requires collective action. Governments, the private sector, civil society, and development partners must work together to unlock opportunities, mobilize resources, and build sustainable pathways for inclusive economic growth.”
A key highlight of the Partners for Impact event was two high-level panel discussions that brought together senior leaders from development finance institutions, the private sector, financial institutions, and international organizations to explore practical solutions to some of Pakistan’s most pressing development challenges.
The first panel, “From Vulnerability to Resilience: Financing and Scaling Climate Action in Pakistan,” focused on how partnerships can accelerate climate resilience by strengthening investment, innovation, and community-based solutions. The discussion featured strong representation from sector leaders including from Mr. Mehboob Alam – Meezan Bank; Mr. Zahid Hussain – Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL); Mr. Sherjeel Usmani – QA Solar, and Ms. Iman Agha – Syngenta, who shared insights on financing climate-smart agriculture, expanding access to renewable energy, building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable business practices, and strengthening public-private partnerships.
The second panel discussion, “Accelerating Women’s Economic Empowerment: From Inclusion to Leadership,” focused on expanding women’s participation in the economy through digital inclusion, skills development, entrepreneurship, leadership, and inclusive business practices.
Representatives from leading corporations and development organizations, including Ms. Fatima Akhtar – JazzWorld; Ms. Hiba Dar – The Coca-Cola Company; Dr. Simbal Khan – CrossRoad Consultants; Ms. Ayesha Aziz – Packages Group, and Ms. Munawar Sultana – GIZ Pakistan, shared experiences on creating opportunities for women across workplaces, value chains, and communities.
Ms. Munawar Sultana, GIZ Pakistan, highlighted the importance of designing inclusive employment systems, stating, “Creating sustainable employment opportunities for women requires demand-driven skills development, strong cross-sector partnerships, and gender-transformative approaches that address the structural barriers to women’s economic participation. When these elements come together, the impact extends well beyond the life of any single project.”
Highlighting the role of the private sector, Ms. Hiba Dar, The Coca-Cola Company, mentioned, “Women’s economic empowerment is not just corporate social responsibility, it is smart business. When businesses invest in women’s skills, entrepreneurship, and leadership, they strengthen communities, drive inclusive growth, and create lasting value for everyone.”
The discussion reinforced the importance of investing in women’s leadership, strengthening digital and financial inclusion, and building partnerships that enable women to thrive as entrepreneurs, professionals, and decision-makers.
Throughout the event, participants emphasized that addressing Pakistan’s development challenges requires stronger collaboration between government, businesses, financial institutions, civil society, and development partners.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participating organizations to explore new partnerships that promote climate resilience, strengthen livelihoods, and create inclusive economic opportunities, particularly for women and vulnerable communities.
As Pakistan continues to navigate the impacts of climate change and economic transformation, Partners for Impact reaffirmed that sustainable progress depends on collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind.