Islamabad: In line with its commitment to advancing green energy solutions, Telenor Pakistan hosted a panel discussion on “Climate Change and Green Energy Transition.” The event gathered industry experts and leaders to explore the critical role of businesses in addressing climate challenges and promoting sustainable energy practices across Pakistan. The panel discussion was co-organized by The Pakistan Business Council’s Center of Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB) held at Telenor Campus 345 in Islamabad.
Telenor Pakistan’s CEO, Khurrum Ashfaque, set the stage for the panel discussion by emphasizing the critical need to accelerate green energy adoption. He remarked, “With a substantial footprint across the country, organizations like Telenor Pakistan have a role to play in transitioning to sustainable energy solutions.” Ashfaque further highlighted the company’s strong commitment to sustainability, outlining the ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, using 2019 as the baseline. He also emphasized the importance of engaging partners in this effort, stating, “Beyond our own operations, we are actively engaging our partners to join us on this decarbonization journey, amplifying our impact across the value chain.”
Director and Head of Sustainability at Telenor Asia, Johan Martin Seland, delivered a keynote address, where he shared valuable insights into Telenor’s sustainability strategies and achievements. He emphasized that increasing access to renewable energy is central to the green transition, underscoring the need for an enabling policy environment that supports predictable, long-term corporate power purchase agreements. Such policies, he noted, will drive investments in renewable energy projects, fostering a low-emission future in Pakistan.
The panel highlighted that cross-sector collaboration and robust sustainable policies are pivotal to unlocking Pakistan’s renewable energy potential. By aligning public and private stakeholders, these partnerships can catalyze innovation in clean energy solutions. This unified approach not only accelerates the transition to renewable energy but also bolsters Pakistan’s resilience to climate challenges, setting the stage for a sustainable and secure future.
Moderated by Mr. Ahmad Usman Bhatti, Senior Manager of HSE & Sustainability at Telenor Pakistan, the panel featured notable speakers, including Ms. Sobiah Becker, Advisor for the Pak-German Climate & Energy Partnership at GIZ GmbH, Mr. Farhan Haider, Vice President of Network Design and Service Delivery at Telenor Pakistan and Dr. Gul Muhammad Khan, Professor at UET and Director of the Centre for Intelligent Systems and Networks Research (CISNR).
