Islamabad (Nazrana Times) Ali Imran Chattha 

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) will organise its 29th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) from November 2 to November 5 at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Islamabad. The four-day conference will be held under the overarching theme, "Rethinking Development in an Age of Disruption".

Running alongside the conference will be the fourth Sustainability Investment Expo, carrying the theme "Connecting Ideas, Investment and Impact for Resilient Development".

The event is structured around three key pillars: Economy, Environment and Equity, with development finance running across all three areas. Various panel discussions and plenary sessions will examine debt, domestic resource mobilisation, blended finance and inequalities within the global financial architecture.

Other major topics on the agenda include transboundary air and water security in South Asia, the emerging "heat economy", Individual Development Goals (IDGs), reconstruction in conflict-affected regions and multilateralism as a model of cooperation for the Global South.

Technology will also feature prominently throughout the conference, with discussions covering artificial intelligence (AI), digital trade and data governance. The event will also see the launch of the Global South Solutions Without Borders (GS-SWB) Platform, which aims to translate dialogue into pilot projects, policy toolkits and financing partnerships.

Opening session scheduled for November 2

The conference will begin on Monday, November 2, at 9:30 am with the opening plenary, "Rethinking Development in an Age of Disruption", organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

Federal Minister Prof. Ahsan Iqbal is listed as the chief guest, while Prof. Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, will attend as the guest of honour.

Two publications, "Sustainable Development in the Emerging World Dis|Order" and the "Journal of Development Policy, Research & Practice" (Vol. 10), will also be launched during the occasion.

This will be followed by the Expo's Awards Plenary and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 am, with Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Ms Shaza Fatima Khawaja as the chief guest.

Sustainability Awards will be presented in seven categories, covering areas ranging from climate adaptation and circular economy to digital innovation, clean energy and research-to-impact. An OICCI report will also be launched.

In the afternoon, Prof. Dr Adil Najam, Dean Emeritus at the Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University, is scheduled to deliver a keynote address titled "Strengthening Climate Action: Priorities and Proposals for Effective Implementation".

The State of Environment Report will also be launched in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme and Southern Voice. Other plenary sessions will focus on "Rethinking Agriculture Through Regenerative Practices: Restoring Soil, Water and Nature's Balance" and the "Social Protection and Climate Change Nexus".

Wide-ranging discussions on November 3 and 4

On Tuesday and Wednesday, November 3 and 4, thematic sessions will cover a broad range of subjects, including economy, energy, water, health, governance, youth, geopolitics, women's empowerment and artificial intelligence.

Key sessions will include "Rethinking Development Through the Three Es", "Strengthening Power Systems for Energy Transition in South Asia", "Water Security, Hydro-diplomacy and Regional Peace", "Rethinking Tobacco Control in Pakistan", "Pakistan's Hydrogen Economy: Strategic Priorities Amid Regional Instability" and "Shifting Geopolitics: Risks, Resilience and Prosperity".

Six fireside chats on corporate sustainability will also be held throughout the expo.

At the session titled "Climate Finance in Pakistan: Readiness & Gaps", the Pakistan Climate Action Hub and a dashboard on Country Platforms will be launched. Ms Maja Derrous Mortensen, Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan, will deliver the keynote address.

Another session, "Living with Disasters: Understanding Risks, Anticipatory Planning and Financing for Preparedness", will be organised in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

Mr Idrees Mehsud, Member DRR at the National Disaster Management Authority, will be the keynote speaker at this session.

Tuesday evening's plenary will feature the presentation of SDPI's Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 in honour of Dr Ishrat Husain, former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.

Wednesday's closing plenary, titled "Circular Economy Transition Beyond 2030: From Policy Ambition to Inclusive Action in South Asia", will include the launch of a Circular Economy Report in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environment Strategies (IGES).

Conference to conclude on November 5

The conference will conclude on Thursday, November 5, with a morning plenary titled "Private-Sector Growth and the Fiscal Policy Agenda for 2027". This will be followed by sessions on "Transforming Pakistan's Agriculture and Food Systems in an Age of Disruption" and "AI for Regenerative and Climate-Smart Agriculture".

The afternoon programme will include the launch of the Annual State of Renewable Energy 2026 report, followed by a plenary session on the "Middle East Crisis and Economic Outlook".

The final closing plenary, titled "Where Reforms Matter the Most for Growth?", will feature Prof. Dr Stefan Dercon of the University of Oxford as the keynote speaker.

The conference will conclude with a summary of the discussions, a vote of thanks to partners, and the presentation of the SDPI Awards and the Best Pavilion Award.