Beijing (China): The Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) and the School of Environment, Tsinghua University co-hosted a Pakistan-China Green Development Dialogue on the sidelines of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to China.
The Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) has unveiled a groundbreaking policy paper titled “From Policy to Practice: Operationalizing Green SEZs under CPEC via China’s EIP Lessons.” Authored by Mustafa Hyder Sayed, Muhammad Umar Farooq, and Professor Tian Jinping, the paper serves as a practical guide for developing environmentally sustainable Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Pakistan, drawing from China’s experience with Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs).
The paper focuses on translating environmental policy into concrete implementation strategies. Key recommendations include the standardization of contracts and key performance indicators (KPIs), integration of shared utilities such as wastewater treatment and heat recovery systems, and the inclusion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through digital data-sharing platforms.
The launch event featured prominent stakeholders from Pakistan and China. Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Kharal, Minister of State for Climate Change, emphasized the importance of adopting cleaner technologies to enhance competitiveness. Prof. Tian Jinping of Tsinghua University highlighted the value of piloting, measuring, and scaling green initiatives with shared infrastructure and data-backed management. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, PCI’s Executive Director, stressed the roadmap’s focus on actionable implementation rather than theoretical models.
Additional remarks came from Dr. Erfa Iqbal, Additional Secretary at the Board of Investment (BOI), who mentioned that the BOI is developing tools to assist SMEs, including green-upgrade credit lines and performance contracts. XU Tianqi of RDCY, Renmin University, proposed launching two SEZ green pilots using blended finance and carbon monetization models.
Prof. Bi Kejia from Xi’an International Studies University stressed that KPIs must be strictly enforced and linked to tangible incentives. Liu Shuming, Dean at Tsinghua University, underscored the importance of shared infrastructure and verifiable data in reducing costs and building investor trust.
The action plan put forward includes aligning SEZ standards with international EIP frameworks, funding shared utilities through blended capital mechanisms, supporting SMEs via the SEZ one-window operations, and leveraging digital platforms for energy and by-product matching. Together, these steps aim to build a cleaner, more competitive industrial base under CPEC, while fostering sustainable economic growth.
The event focused on promoting Green Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under CPEC, inspired by China’s Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) model.
