Corporate Leaders Explore Carbon Finance Opportunities For Future Growth

KARACHI: (Staff Reporter) – Leading corporate executives have explored the growing potential of carbon finance as a new avenue for business growth, investment and long-term competitiveness during an executive programme held in Karachi.

The Executive Programme on Carbon Finance for CEOs brought together CEOs, board members, CFOs and sustainability leaders to discuss how climate action can move beyond environmental responsibility and become a strategic business opportunity.

The programme was the first in a series of workshops being launched by NUST in collaboration with Nutshell Communications and the Climate Vulnerable Forum & Vulnerable Twenty (CVF–V20).

Organized jointly by NUST’s Iqbal Executive Development Centre (IEDC), Nutshell Communications and CVF–V20, the event focused on emerging trends in climate finance, carbon markets and sustainable investment.

Experts highlighted that climate change is now a major factor influencing investment decisions, access to financing, export competitiveness and corporate governance. They said businesses that actively prepare for the transition toward a low-carbon economy will be better positioned to attract capital, improve resilience and create new revenue opportunities.

Speakers included leading carbon credit and ESG specialists such as Zulfiqar Younas, Senior Advisor Climate Finance at CVF–V20, along with Ahsan Karmran, Khurram Lalani and Maha Qasim.

Participants discussed opportunities emerging from Pakistan’s evolving climate policy framework, including the Pakistan Carbon Market Policy, Pakistan Green Taxonomy and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Sustainability Reporting Framework.

These initiatives are expected to help businesses access green financing, develop carbon credit projects and align operations with international sustainability standards.

A key part of the programme was an address by Mussarat Jabeen, Executive Director of SECP, who highlighted the importance of sustainability reporting, climate-related disclosures and stronger corporate governance in preparing companies for future regulatory and market requirements.

The event also featured an international case study on Shell’s Carbon Finance Strategy, demonstrating how global companies are integrating carbon finance into their operations to support decarbonization, attract investment and create long-term business value.

Executives also participated in discussions on developing bankable carbon projects, generating carbon credits, securing green investment and incorporating climate considerations into corporate strategies.

The programme concluded with the message that the shift toward a low-carbon economy presents a major opportunity for businesses. Companies that invest early in climate-focused strategies, sustainability governance and carbon markets are likely to gain stronger access to finance and improve their competitiveness.

Through such initiatives, CVF–V20 continues to work with governments, financial institutions and the private sector to promote climate investment and expand access to carbon finance in vulnerable economies.