(MENAFN- EIN Presswire) EINPresswire/ -- In South Asia, the Society for Low Carbon Technologies (SFLCT) held landmark engagements that advanced Pakistan's low-carbon positioning through a combination of strategic planning and field-level implementation. That progress is reflected in the deployment of Pakistan's first locally manufactured smog-cleaning tower, commissioned by the Government of Punjab's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and officially recognized by SFLCT during a recent site visit. This tower now serves as a visible marker of the nation's low-carbon evolution, complementing SFLCT's visit to the first Direct Air Capture unit in South America, located in Brazil.

Against this backdrop, two pivotal meetings unfolded earlier this year at the World Times Institute (WTI) headquarters in the Pakistani city of Lahore. During the first meeting (Meeting 1), SFLCT and the WTI reaffirmed their commitment to the nation's first low-carbon agreement, executed in 2024, which has been extended through 2026. This partnership has been fundamental to SFLCT's Smog Diplomacy framework, which now interlinks with the United Nations' COP30. Under this collaboration, Osama Rizvi, Greater Middle East Chairman for SFLCT, participated in COP29 and engaged with the World Bank to tackle the smog crisis in Lahore.

In the second meeting later that day (Meeting 2), SFLCT and the EPA discussed accelerating pollution reduction and geothermal development as part of Pakistan's clean-energy strategy. These initiatives align with SFLCT's institutional role in Brazil's Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Subcommittee, which anchors its COP30 strategy and beyond. This alignment further underscores SFLCT's South Asia–South America cooperation arc, as documented in the "Journal of Petroleum Technology" and extended through its engagement with Malaysia's Petronas.

Further important details about Meeting 1: the WTI–SFLCT agreement renewed their partnership on climate advocacy, policy alignment, and capacity building, including the provision of additional scholarships for emerging young leaders. The collaboration also established an operational base in Lahore for SFLCT. Adeel Niaz, the Head of WTI, and Fernando C. Hernandez, the Chairman of the Board of SFLCT, executed this watershed agreement renewal. Rizvi, who oversaw the agreement's structuring, stated that“this partnership further strengthens Pakistan's sustainability stance while empowering young leaders to advance the country's low-carbon economy.”

At Meeting 2, SFLCT met with EPA Deputy Director Ali Ijaz at WTI headquarters to synchronize Pakistan's environmental priorities with its low-carbon transition. SFLCT advocated for stronger regulatory frameworks, sustainable technologies, and public–private partnerships to mitigate air pollution. Discussions included expanding geothermal and renewable-energy development, as well as decarbonizing small motor vehicles. SFLCT and the EPA had previously operated independently on smog abatement; this meeting formally marked their first intersection of impact. Rizvi outlined that Pakistan's air-quality crisis requires swift, practical solutions and that SFLCT is committed to combining global best practices with local action to achieve lasting sovereign results.

In closing, Hernandez and Rizvi emphasized that this dual engagement with both WTI and the EPA positions Pakistan as a Global South leader advancing measurable low-carbon progress. Hernandez concluded by stating that“Pakistan's geothermal potential has been assessed for decades, and seeing it come to the forefront in 2025 is as impactful as renewing the nation's low-carbon agreement.”

MENAFN31102025003118003196ID1110276877