Green CPEC offers Pakistan a win-win

The Express Tribune published an opinion piece arguing that the second phase of CPEC could help Pakistan address stagflation and climate change together. The writer, a political economist, says the green focus of CPEC-II fits the green Belt and Road agenda that China has been promoting. The Climate Prosperity Plan, issued by the Ministry of Finance, is presented as the bridge between the two.

According to the writer, the Climate Vulnerability Forum and V20 helped devise the plan, whose projects are described as bankable and economically sound. The breakdown shows 34 projects aimed at mitigation, 15 at adaptation and 20 at resilience. The reported averages include an IRA of 31-34%, an EIRR of 22.24% and payback in 4.8-5.2 years.

The writer says awareness of the plan is limited among the public and business community, and proposes a communication strategy, sharing the plan with Chinese counterparts, and a joint committee of the Ministries of Finance and Planning. Marketing events in Pakistan and China are also suggested. The piece names no listed company or sector, so its relevance for PSX investors is indirect.