GIZ to back 300 Sindh SMEs on environmental compliance

KARACHI: Germany's development agency GIZ will provide technical and financial assistance to 300 small and medium-sized enterprises in Sindh to help them meet environmental standards, reduce industrial pollution and obtain green financing, Business Recorder reported.

The programme was set out by Julia Bazinova, project director of GIZ Pakistan's Better Governance and Business Environment project, at a meeting with Sindh Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Faisal Ahmed Uqaili, the newspaper said.

The meeting was aimed at building a coordinated approach to help SMEs comply with environmental rules, strengthen their operating capacity and adopt sustainable business practices. GIZ will carry out technical assessments, offer advisory services and help businesses approach financial institutions for environment-friendly investment. The programme will also identify the specific needs of firms and produce practical guidance on environmental compliance.

Uqaili said the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency's role went beyond enforcing environmental law and acting against violations. Industrial enterprises also needed guidance and facilitation to meet environmental requirements, he said.

The secretary said his department would work with businesses to understand their difficulties and find workable solutions, and that closer coordination between SEPA and GIZ's technical teams would improve the implementation of environmental standards.

He also said about 70 per cent of the department's processes had been digitised, with further reforms planned to bring in digital systems for geo-tagging environmental inspectors' visits, online payments and the processing of no-objection certificates.

Bazinova welcomed the department's cooperation and stressed the importance of information-sharing and coordination between technical teams and relevant government agencies. Technical assessments, tailored advice and access to green financing would be important in helping SMEs strengthen their businesses while meeting international environmental requirements, she said.

The meeting also covered improvements to environmental monitoring, training for departmental officials and inspectors, stronger laboratory capacity and the promotion of cleaner industrial practices. SEPA Director General Dr Ashiq Ali Langa, GIZ technical advisers, environmental adviser Nauman Sheikh and information officer Murad Waheed attended.

Participants agreed that effective compliance among businesses would require an integrated approach combining regulatory enforcement, technical guidance, training and financial support. The collaboration is expected to help SMEs improve compliance and move towards more sustainable operations.