WWF - Pakistan

Rural communities in South Punjab, Pakistan, face critical energy challenges, struggling with unreliable electricity and limited job opportunities. To address this, WWF-Pakistan, with support from USAID's Power Sector Improvement Activity (PSIA), is advancing sustainable solutions through the grant Integrated Rural Energy and Green Vocational Training Initiative (IREGVTI). At a Stakeholder Workshop in Multan, over 40 representatives from the public and private sectors, academia, training institutions, and community-based organizations came together to share insights and feedback on promoting solar energy systems and creating green jobs. The initiative focuses on equipping local communities, including women, with the technical skills needed to assess, install, and maintain solar energy systems, creating sustainable livelihoods while accelerating the transition to clean energy. Participants emphasized the importance of solar energy in addressing energy challenges and diversifying livelihoods in South Punjab. With 7-day technical training sessions planned for community members in Shujabad, Multan, this initiative is empowering individuals with green skills and opportunities for a brighter, greener future. Together, we are driving sustainable development, creating jobs, and building a cleaner energy future for Pakistan. #TogetherPossible #SustainableSolutions #SolarPower #SolarEnergy

New year, new commitments. #HappyNewYear 🎉 As we step into 2025, let’s make it a year of action and impact. The future of our planet starts with the choices we make today. Let’s commit to a sustainable and prosperous 2025. One step at a time! #TogetherPossible #WWFPakistan

Join WWF-Pakistan’s Eco-Internship Programme 2025 as you step into the new year and take a step towards becoming an environmental leader! 🌿 Open to students of Grade 9 and above, this exciting opportunity is packed with learning about sustainable living, climate action, and ecopreneurship while developing essential skills like leadership, teamwork, and emotional intelligence. 📅 Registration deadline: 12 January 2025 📍 City: Karachi ✨ Benefits: Internship Completion Certification, Community Service Letter, and a chance to become WWF-Pakistan's Student Ambassador. 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/dNJyMHMp Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference! #WWFPakistan #EcoInternship2025 #Opportunities #ForNature

Read the latest blog by Ayoub Hameedi, "Once Aral Sea, Now Aralkum Desert: Lessons for Pakistan," which explores the collapse of the Aral Sea and its transformation into the toxic Aralkum Desert. The article serves as a stark warning for Pakistan, detailing how unsustainable water use, inefficient irrigation practices, and climate change could lead to similar environmental crises. Learn how Pakistan can adopt proactive measures to conserve water, modernize agriculture, and adapt to climate change for a sustainable future. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dQzey26B

Groundwater depletion is a growing crisis in urban centres but there’s a solution! Under the Australia-Pakistan Water Security Initiative, WWF-Pakistan has replenished over 4,000 cubic meters of water through 37 interventions, helping close the loop for sustainable water use. Together, we can secure our water future! #WaterConservation #Sustainability #WWFPakistan

At just 13 years old, Tania learned stitching and embroidery at WWF-Pakistan's C-First Centre, established in partnership with IKEA and IDH, and started her own small business. Watch this video to see how these skills are making a difference in her life. #WWFPakistan #SkillDevelopment #Sustainability #Empowerment

The Journey of Cotton begins in the cotton fields, where farmers and cotton pickers work tirelessly to handpick soft, white cotton bolls. This raw cotton travels to markets and industries, where it is refined into the fabrics we wear and the essentials we use every day. WWF-Pakistan, in collaboration with the Better Cotton, is making the work of farmers and cotton pickers safer and more sustainable by addressing challenges like harsh weather and chemical exposure through the adoption of safer practices. Farmers adopting Better Cotton standards contribute to environmental sustainability by minimising harmful crop protection practices, using water efficiently, and caring for soil health. They conserve natural habitats and preserve fiber quality all of which support a more sustainable cotton industry. From the fields to the factories, every cotton product tells a story of care, hard work, and progress.

Here are some pictures from a transformative media workshop, "Amplifying Voices for a Sustainable Future," held in collaboration with Ismaili CIVIC Pakistan and the Aga Khan Foundation in Gilgit-Baltistan. The event brought together advocates, media professionals, and environmentalists to spark meaningful dialogue and drive action on climate change. The session highlighted the urgent need for collaboration and innovation, with key discussions focusing on policies, research initiatives, and the challenges of building climate resilience in the region. Participants explored the role of WWF-Pakistan in addressing climate challenges and learned about ongoing research efforts, and engaged in conversations on how to bridge gaps through collective efforts. The event concluded with an exposure visit to HBL Microfinance’s green office in Gilgit, showcasing sustainable practices in action. This workshop served as a powerful reminder that united voices can lead to impactful change.  #TogetherPossible #ClimateAction #SustainableFuture #WWFPakistan

Plastic wrappers and multi-layered plastics (MLP) are among the most persistent forms of #waste, littering our #streets and polluting our environment. But this problem isn’t just about trash. It’s an opportunity for #transformation! WWF-Pakistan, in collaboration with English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM), has launched the Multi-Layered Plastics Upcycling Training Programme with experts from DASTAAN E RUMAAN in Baldia Town, Karachi, and Farash Town, Islamabad. This groundbreaking initiative not only tackles the growing #plasticwaste crisis but also offers alternative income opportunities to over 50 underprivileged women in these communities. Through traditional handloom training, these women will learn to upcycle discarded MLP into durable, eco-friendly sheets. The sheets are then crafted into innovative, marketable products such as handbags, tote bags, laptop sleeves, and more. With the success of this pilot project, WWF-Pakistan aims to expand this initiative to other cities and regions, proving that solutions to environmental challenges can create #sustainable livelihoods. #TogetherPossible

Representatives of the SMEP PMA (Glen Wilson, Elzette Henshilwood and Amani Issa) and UNCTAD (Maria Durleva) were fortunate to travel to vibrant Pakistan last week. The main objective of the trip was to visit all Pakistan SMEP projects and to engage with relevant stakeholders in the country. It was a whirlwind trip, during which the team spent two days in Karachi and four days in Lahore and its surrounding areas. Our Pakistan hosts were exceptional in organising the logistics for our visit, demonstrating that Pakistan's love language is its hospitality and delicious food. Some of the highlight visits were: - Visiting a textile recycling facility in Karachi (TexCycle), which produces recycled yarn from colour separated post-industrial waste. These facilities play a crucial role as partners on the Reverse Resources traceability platform, a project funded by SMEP. Manzoor Fareed Hashmi is the local representative, who is passionate about sustainability and has extensive experience in this sector in Pakistan. - Touring a second-hand clothing sorting facility, Retex Global. This facility plays a vital role in sorting second-hand clothing collected from Europe and other countries before exporting it to markets that contribute to the thriving second-hand clothing industry in developing countries. This visit was particularly relevant for the SMEP project in Uganda, led by WasteAid UK on circular textiles. - Attending the Pakistan Water and Energy Expo, which featured a one-day conference component organized by Dr. Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, CEng, MIMechE, FHEA under a SMEP-funded project. The innovative #safeconomy wastewater treatment technology was well received by the conference participants. The team then also visited the first pilot site for this project, Sapphire Finishing Mill. - No visit to Pakistan would be complete without a stop at National Textile University in Faisalabad, a pioneering facility in the textile industry and a partner in both the Reverse Resources and Safeconomy projects. The SMEP team was impressed by the innovative methods the NTU team is employing to repurpose textile dust, which is typically considered waste in the industry. Dr. Muzzamal Hussain Dr. Yasir Nawab, FHEA. - The NTU team took the team to a cluster of smaller-scale textile recyclers focused on post-industrial waste, which forms part of a new study assessing their current production processes and their environmental impact. - In the last two days, we engaged with WWF - Pakistan, discussing various challenges facing the textiles and leather industries in the country and learning about previous successful programs in this sector. We also met the WWF team responsible for the SMEP e-traceability project, which included a site visit to a participating tannery in Sialkot, Leatherfields. We are grateful to our hosts who also showed us some cultural aspects of Pakistan. Stay tuned to the SMEP website and this platform for a synthesis of key learnings from this trip.