Islamabad will host a major regional gathering from 4 to 7 November 2025 as the Sustainable Development Policy Institute stages its 28th Sustainable Development Conference at Allama Iqbal Open University under the theme Sustainable Development in the Emerging World Dis|Order. The event runs alongside the 16th South Asia Economic Summit, the Third Sustainability Investment Expo and the Ninth South and South-West Asia Subregional Forum on Sustainable Development convened by UNESCAP.
More than 45 sessions will bring together parliamentarians, policymakers, development practitioners, business leaders, technical experts, diplomats and academics from across South Asia and beyond to debate practical pathways for Sustainable Development. Discussions will span sustainable finance, climate resilience, circular economy, COP30, SDGs, alternative finance strategy, eco-friendly agriculture and food systems, just energy transition, renewable energy in Pakistan, telecom and artificial intelligence, disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action, sustainable cities, green skills, tobacco control and social equity.
The conference opens with a high-level plenary on Day 1 featuring Planning Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal as chief guest, joined by UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya, environmental lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan from Bangladesh and Prof Kazuhiko Takeuchi, president of Japan’s Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. Their participation highlights the conference focus on regional collaboration to accelerate Sustainable Development goals in South Asia.
The Sustainability Investment Expo will be inaugurated by Climate Change Minister Senator Dr Musadik Malik, showcasing innovations in green finance, smart mobility and renewable energy that have direct relevance for Pakistan’s transition to low-carbon growth. A strategic dialogue on accelerating the SDGs will be led by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UNESCAP executive secretary, together with Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, SDPI executive director, to chart actionable steps for public and private sector engagement.
The high-level closing plenary on Day 1 will focus on unlocking circular opportunities in plastics and agri-food systems, with Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain and Romina Khurshid Alam joining to underscore government priorities on food security, industrial policy and environmental coordination. The session aims to connect policy levers with investment and community-level solutions that advance Sustainable Development in Pakistan.
Media are invited to cover sessions and secure exclusive interviews with international and regional experts addressing the pressing sustainability, climate finance and economic growth challenges facing the country and the region. The conference offers a timely platform for Pakistani stakeholders to engage directly with global initiatives and adapt best practices for national implementation of Sustainable Development objectives.
