KCCI and Ministry of Environment organized a consultative meeting with the business community on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) at KCCI premises under the chairmanship of Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Honorable Federal Minister for Environment.

The objective of the session was to introduce a new business opportunity on "Carbon Finance" through Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and development of the linkages among Local, National, International CDM Investor companies, Project developer, technology provider, public and private companies, etc. The CDM under the Kyoto Protocol has been particularly introduced for the developing countries.

President KCCI, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad calls the business community to come forward and get benefits of this technology, he said "The CDM is meant to introduce Environment Friendly Technologies and has the potential to become a tool for technology transfer and a source for foreign exchange earnings. Moreover, it can be helpful in adding a value to the profile of your Production Unit, as energy efficient and environmental compliant".

"CDM would also help businessmen in attaining Environmental Standards, sometimes mandatory for exports. At the same time, it's an attractive investment opportunity in favour of your business unit" Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad added.

Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Federal Minister for Environment told the participants that Pakistan has undertaken a number of initiatives to promote CDM Project activities in the country and granted host country approval to 25 CDM projects out of which seven (7) CDM Projects are registered with CDM Executive Board, benefits from these 07 CDM Projects in the form of foreign direct investment is around 195 million US $ and GHGs reduction of 1.7 million tons CO2 eq/year. The expected benefits form these 25 CDM Projects in the form of foreign direct investment is around 742 million US$ and GHGs reduction of 4 million tons CO2 eq/year. In addition, one hundred and twenty (120) CDM Projects are in pipeline at various developmental stages in the country. The expected benefits form these 120 CDM Projects in the form of foreign direct investment is around 1715 million US dollars and GHGs reduction of 28 million tons CO2 eq/year.

Hameedullah Jan Afridi pointed out the great potential that exist for CDM projects in various sectors of our economy - including energy efficiency, alternate and renewable energy production, cleaner technologies in industrial processes, and improvements in agriculture and forestry practices and assured Government's strong commitment to support all initiatives under this portfolio. He has appreciated the Role of KCCI interest in CDM Project activities in the country and ensured them full support and cooperation of Ministry of Environment as Designated National Authority (DNA) for CDM.

Zubair Motiwalla, Advisor to CM, Vice Chairman BMG and Former President KCCI, said "We are already short of water and electricity, and they are depleting every fast. By 2020, we would confront shortfall of 12000 MW and by 2035, 38000 MW. Amidst such crisis the businessmen is not making money, there is law and order situation, political situation. Industry is already in crisis and if the Government wants the business community to take extra measures first makes sure the industry is running as this initiative requires extra funding".

"Secondly the NEQs of Karachi is very different from Faisalabad. In Faisalabad it's going directly in main streams and for human consumption while here Marine life is the affected one. So whatever the committee made by Government, it should be practical and based on ground realities, and also involve some representatives of industries", said Zubair Motiwalla, Former President KCCI and Advisor to CM.

Zubair Motiwalla further said, "Most of the business industries didn't have capacity to install affluent treatment plants as they had acquired land from decades when there was no thought on it. And the fluids coming from different industries are so different. India also faced the same situation but they woke up much earlier than Pakistan. Through a collective survey, it was found that the solution could be combine Affluent Treatment plants but we need careful study of the wastes and do research, the need is to hire experts who have experience of implementing and executing such programmes, we would be 100 percent supportive of such programmes as the toxic waste is extremely dangerous for health. We also need to study the cases of other developed countries".

Syed Amjad Hussain, CDM Expert from Ministry of Environment gave an elaborated presentation on CDM Potential Opportunities and Initiatives' of DNA for Promotion of CDM Project Portfolio in Pakistan. Mr. Hussain told the participants about the impacts of climate change on different sectors of our economy and how to address these negative impacts by implementing CDM Projects in different sectors in the country. In his presentation, he has described the CDM Potential opportunities in different sectors and Role of Designated National Authority (DNA) for CDM Project promotion through Awareness Raising, Capacity Building, Advisory Services, by developing linkages among different stakeholders for promotion and enhancement of CDM Project portfolio in Pakistan.

M. Naeem Sharif, Chairman sub-committee, Environment, KCCI thanked the minister for visiting KCCI and involving business community for this programme and assured full cooperation and input reference to CDM.

The participants drawn a conclusion that the industry is willing to cooperate on the issue of waste management but the Ministry also have to hire experts who are aware of the ground realities of a particular industrial site. And the industry representatives should also be taken into the committees made. The session was attended by KCCI leadership, Managing Committee members, Environment experts and large number of participants from business community.