ISLAMABAD – The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map reveals an almost $10trillion opportunity for private-sector investors across all emergingmarkets to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), withPakistan representing $96.2 billion of that total.
The study identifies opportunities for the private sector to contribute tothree infrastructure-focused goals in Pakistan between now and 2030:
– SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure across emerging markets
Investment in Power Sector
The greatest investment opportunity in Pakistan is found in achieving andmaintaining universal access to electricity (a key SDG 7 indicator),representing a $44.7 billion private-sector opportunity. This considers theproportion of the population currently without electricity access (29percent), projected population growth, and the growing demand for power asthe economy develops.Investment in Digital Infrastructure
There is also a significant opportunity for investment in digitalinfrastructure, with a potential private-sector contribution of around $34billion needed to achieve full digital adoption (measured by a combinationof mobile phone subscription rates and internet connectivity).Investment in Digital Access
Digital access is a key indicator for SDG 9, which encourages improvementin industry, innovation and infrastructure. The other SDG 9 indicator inOpportunity2030 is transport infrastructure. To significantly improvePakistan’s transport infrastructure by 2030, there’s a $13.5 billioninvestment opportunity for the private sector.Investment in Sanitation & Water Provision
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The opportunity in the water and sanitation sector is smaller but couldmake a significant impact. Almost a quarter (24 percent) of Pakistan’spopulation still does not have access to clean water and sanitation, a keySDG 6 indicator. Closing this gap by 2030 will require significantinvestment, with an opportunity for the private sector to provide around $4billion of the funding.
Shazad Dada Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered said:
Pakistan has demonstrated a strong commitment to the UN SustainableDevelopment Goals by becoming the first country to adopt the SDGs as partof its national development agenda through a Parliamentary Resolution. Theprivate sector will play a crucial role in enabling Pakistan to hit thesetargets and there is substantial opportunity for investment that supportsinfrastructure development, including digital, energy provisioning as wellas clean water and sanitation.
Opportunity2030 provides an important map of the SDG opportunities forprivate sector investors looking to invest with impact and improve thelives of millions of Pakistanis over the next decade.
