Karachi: State Bank of Pakistan organised a Sustainable Banking Conference in collaboration with IFC a member of World Bank Group here. Objective of conference was to create critically needed awareness related to climate change and sustainability within financial sector and launch Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) Implementation Manual.

Governor SBP Jameel Ahmad, Khawaja Aftab Ahmed (Regional Director, IFC), Zeeshan Ahmed Sheikh (Country Manager for Afghanistan and Pakistan, IFC), Toshio Odagiri (Counsul General of Japan in Karachi), Dr. Shamshad Akhtar (Chairperson, PSX Board), Yaseen Anwar (senior Policy Advisor, IFC), Sima Kamil (Deputy Governor SBP), presidents/CEOs of banks/DFIs, senior officials from Pakistan Banks Association, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant stakeholders attended. Governor SBP remarked this manual has been launched as part of SBP’s ongoing efforts to promote green banking in Pakistan.

It was an effort to spread awareness on impact of climate change and environmental degradation on financial sector of Pakistan. He encouraged entire banking industry to take full benefit of manual to establish their ESRM systems and procedures.  

Khawaja Aftab Ahmed said that manual can help banking industry better manage environmental and social risks throughout their lending practices and subsequently, enable green and inclusive economic recovery at critical time for Pakistan.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 10 2022

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