Pakistan announces $10 million clean-air startup fund

Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik announced on Wednesday that Pakistan plans to create a $10 million fund for clean-air startups. Speaking at the Pakistan National Clean Air Conference 2026, he said the government would finance it from limited domestic resources after approaching development partners; the fund’s board was expected to approve it the next day.

Malik framed the initiative as a responsibility to future generations, not a grant or loan, and said the government would continue clean-air work even without outside backing. He cited air pollution’s estimated economic cost at 6.5 per cent of GDP, and acknowledged support from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNICEF and GIZ for climate initiatives. He called for practical engineering, policy and financing measures that also consider the livelihoods of communities affected by pollution.