Dubai, February 11, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the international community to enhance climate financing and technology sharing to attract private investment into Pakistan’s green energy and infrastructure sectors.
Addressing the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2025 in Dubai, the prime minister emphasized the need for global institutions to support developing nations like Pakistan in achieving sustainable economic growth. He stressed that while Pakistan is committed to mobilizing domestic resources and implementing policy reforms, international collaboration remains crucial. “The transition to a green economy is a shared responsibility,” he remarked, adding that Pakistan’s energy shift alone requires an estimated $100 billion investment.
Despite significant challenges, PM Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s recent economic stabilization. “Pakistan stands at a defining moment of economic transformation. In January, headline inflation dropped to 2.4%—the lowest in nine years—while the interest rate was capped at 12%,” he noted.
Discussing renewable energy, the prime minister said Pakistan is rapidly expanding solar, wind, and nuclear power. The southern region holds 50,000 MW of untapped wind energy potential, while northern hydro projects are expected to add 30,000 MW of clean energy capacity. He further outlined key policy reforms, including tax exemptions, incentives for solar investments, and duty waivers on solar equipment to accelerate adoption.
Shehbaz also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to improve water efficiency through drip irrigation, modern farming techniques, and drought-resistant crops. The government, he added, is promoting agricultural innovation by deploying solar-powered farming systems and climate-smart sensors to enhance productivity while minimizing environmental impact. Furthermore, 1,000 young Pakistani agriculture graduates are being sent to China for advanced training in modern farming techniques.
On the broader economic front, PM Shehbaz positioned Pakistan as one of Asia’s most dynamic investment landscapes, citing its strategic location bridging South and Central Asia, a rising middle class, and a tech-savvy youth population, with 70% under the age of 30.
Concluding his speech, he underscored Pakistan’s commitment to infrastructure development, economic diversification, and human development, declaring, “The future is not something we inherit; it is something we actively shape.”
Touching on global affairs, PM Shehbaz addressed the Gaza conflict, condemning the loss of over 50,000 Palestinian lives. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance that lasting peace is only achievable through a two-state solution, with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds as the capital of an independent Palestinian state, in line with UN resolutions.
The prime minister also commended the UAE’s leadership for hosting the summit, calling Dubai “a city where the future meets the present”, and lauded its role as a global hub for economy, commerce, and technology.