ISLAMABAD: A green industrial revolution is underway in Sweden and the country is open to collaborating with others innovatively, Swedish Ambassador Henrik Persson said on Thursday night.

The ambassador was speaking at an event held to commemorate Sweden Day. The theme of the event was ‘Pioneer the Possible’ with a focus on Sweden’s journey towards becoming the world’s first fossil-free welfare state.

People from the business community, multilateral agencies, government officials, civil society, Swedish alumni and journalists were present at the event.

“Today we are presenting to you how far Swedish companies have come in terms of sustainability and innovation,” Mr Persson said.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Rehman said the event was a unique synergy of innovation and creativity which was needed in trade and green diplomacy. She praised the audience and exhibitors for presenting the unique synergy between Pakistani innovation, entrepreneurship and Swedish businesses.

“I am excited and inspired by all the regular and tech companies I see here. This is a great way to conduct our trade and green diplomacy. Trade diplomacy is critical to Pakistan and to our foreign policy. This also reflects on how we can work together, learn from each other and how our society can bring their specific qualities to the table and create new momentum for change,” she said, adding that, “I would like to invite a strategic working group of the two countries on climate change and the environment”.

The minister said Pakistan was on the frontline of a global climate emergency.

“A clear and pressing crisis facing us now is the heatwave which you can see is still running as our Margalla Hills are on fire and firefighters have been braving strong winds and heat to put out fires in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well,” she added.

“I met firefighters yesterday, who I want to take the opportunity to salute at every gathering, every occasion. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) firefighters are fighting with bare minimum equipment because the terrain is so difficult for them to drag the water hoses in. This is the norm throughout the fire season but it need not become an escalated challenge for us year after year,” Ms Rehman said.

“We understand that biodiversity, climate change and pollution, the three challenges of the 21st century are interlinked. There is no separating either a crisis or a process or a country from its effects. This is one thing the borders do not care about. So, if there is a heatwave in one country, the supply chain somewhere else will be affected very clearly,” the minister said.

Sherry Rehman took a detailed tour of stalls set up by representatives of these companies and appreciated the strong Swedish business presence in Pakistan.

Officials from several prominent Swedish companies shared their experiences of contributing towards the green transition in Sweden.

An exhibition featured Sweden’s climate strategy and all that Sweden had to offer as a nation with examples of innovative companies driving the change. The exhibition was organised by Swedish Institute in cooperation with Fossil Free Sweden, Environmental Protection Agency and Business Sweden.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2022