By Abdul Ghani

Pakistan is set to establish a Gender-Responsive Climate Finance and Entrepreneurship Hub with an estimated budget of $15 million under the World Bank–Country Partnership Framework for Pakistan (FY2026–FY2035), according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan.

The proposed initiative aims to create a dedicated ecosystem for women entrepreneurs working in climate-related sectors by establishing a Provincial Women’s Green Equity Fund, supporting more than 800 women-led startups, training 3,200 women, and developing a green marketplace to promote sustainable businesses.

The project, listed as part of the World Bank-supported pipeline, includes the creation of four Regional Green Incubation Centres along with seed capital and green grants for emerging businesses. It will also focus on climate-resilient business models, sustainable supply-chain training, and improved access to carbon markets.

The initiative is expected to generate significant economic and environmental outcomes, including support for more than 3,200 beneficiaries, creation of around 12,000 green jobs, and an estimated reduction of 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) annually.

Project activities include establishing a green equity fund, incubation facilities, marketplace development, and entrepreneurship training and support services for women-led enterprises.

The Punjab Environment Protection & Climate Change Department (EP&CCD) is the lead implementing entity, with support from the Women Development Department, the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), and UN Women. Monitoring and evaluation are planned through a digital dashboard using gender-disaggregated data and verified emission-reduction measurements.

The project is currently at the conceptual stage, with no completion timeline or financial drawdown details provided so far.

Credit: INP-WealthPk