‘Sustainable Development in the Emerging World Dis|Order’
SDPI is all set to hold 28th SDC with 40+ sessions
ISLAMABAD : Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) is all set to host its 4-day 28th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) — the Institute’s annual flagship programme and one of the largest and most influential policy advocacy gatherings of South Asia — here on the premises of Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad from November 4 to 7.
The conference will serve as a curtain-raiser to COP30 with the aim to spark actionable discussions on climate finance, trade, circular economy, inclusive growth, inequalities, Artificial Intelligence and the transformation of global governance for sustainable futures.
Alongside the conference, SDPI is also organizing the 3rd Sustainability Investment Expo (SIE) to bring academia, think tanks and industry close to each other in pursuit of providing capacity building and investment opportunities.
16th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES): The Summit will take center stage under the theme, “Exploring Innovations and Policies in the Circular Economy.” Co-hosted by leading think tanks including SDPI (Pakistan), Centre for Policy Dialogue (Bangladesh), SAWTEE (Nepal), Institute of Policy Studies (Sri Lanka), and others , the summit continues its legacy as a premier regional platform fostering dialogue among policymakers, researchers, and civil society.
Since its inception in 2008, SAES has been instrumental in advancing South Asian cooperation at a time when regional institutions like South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) remain stagnant. This year’s edition will feature policy and research dialogues on green industrialization, fiscal and trade reforms, climate prosperity, digital futures, and sustainable workforce development.
Notable sessions are: i) High-Level Policy Dialogue on Circular Economy in South Asia, ii) Roundtable on Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight in Public Debt Management, iii) Regional Dialogue on Accelerating Green Industrialization, iv) Plenary on Mobilizing Finance for Circular South Asia, and Policy Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Futures.
By gathering voices from across South Asia, the SAES will spotlight how think tanks and non-state actors can reignite the region’s stalled integration agenda through evidence-based policymaking and cross-border collaboration.
9th South and South-West Asia Subregional Forum: Alongside the conference, SDPI will also co-host the 9th South and South-West Asia Subregional Forum on Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office from November 4–5.
The Forum will focus on five key SDGs, including Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Industry and Innovation (SDG 9), Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), and Partnerships (SDG 17) and deliberate on transformative and equitable actions to accelerate progress.
A strategic dialogue will open the forum, exploring how regional stakeholders can navigate global disruptions while keeping the SDGs on track. The sessions will discuss financing the energy transition, urban resilience, and lessons from Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) for stronger SDG governance and monitoring.
Outcomes from the forum will feed into the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) in Bangkok and the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, ensuring Pakistan and South Asia’s perspectives are represented in global development policy processes.
3rd Sustainability Investment Expo (SIE): Parallel with 28th SDC, the SIE will also welcome visitors and international guest where capacity building hubs will offer hands-on training on circular economy standards, green finance, and sustainable supply chains. It will also showcase Fireside Chats with climate advocates, diplomats, and youth leaders. A regional cooperation corner will be set up to highlight South-South collaboration in renewable energy and urban resilience.
The SIE aims to move beyond dialogue fostering co-investment opportunities and real-time collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and investors to drive Pakistan and the region’s transition toward low-carbon, climate-resilient and sustainable economies.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
