By Abdul Ghani

The government has allocated Rs51.6 million for the ‘Green Skills for Sustainable Development’ programme for fiscal year 2026-27 to create green jobs, strengthen workforce skills and accelerate climate-friendly enterprises. According to a document available with Wealth Pakistan, the programme has an estimated total cost of Rs450 million and will be implemented from 2025 to June 2028. The initiative aims to foster green entrepreneurship by developing green skills among the youth and professionals, supporting the incubation of climate-friendly enterprises and start-ups, and promoting innovation in priority green sectors.

According to the document, Rs50 million had been allocated for the programme in FY2025-26, but the entire amount was surrendered. Consequently, the revised allocation for 2025-26 was reduced to zero. The government has now earmarked Rs51.6 million for FY2026-27, reflecting a renewed effort to establish a stronger skills and enterprise ecosystem around sustainable development. One of the key components of the programme is the Green Innovation Fund, also referred to as the Green Skills Innovation and Challenge Fund. The fund is intended to catalyse innovation and encourage the development of green solutions and enterprises.

The programme will also seek to integrate green skills into education through institutional partnerships, enabling educational institutions and other stakeholders to contribute to workforce preparation for emerging green sector opportunities. Another focus area is the establishment of a National Green Skills Awareness and Knowledge Exchange Network to promote awareness, knowledge-sharing and collaboration in the field of green skills. The initiative also proposes embedding green job creation into national development strategies and policies to ensure sustained institutional support for employment opportunities linked to environmentally sustainable activities.

The initiative is designed to contribute to a just transition by equipping young people and professionals with skills relevant to the green economy while supporting businesses and start-ups working on climate-friendly solutions. With a total cost of Rs450 million, the programme is expected to provide a longer-term framework for developing human capital, supporting green entrepreneurship, and promoting employment opportunities as Pakistan seeks to align economic development with environmental sustainability.

Credit: INP-WealthPk