GIZ to provide support to 300 SMEs in Sindh

By KARACHI: German development agency GIZ will provide technical and financial assistance to 300 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sindh to improve their environmental compliance, reduce industrial pollution and facilitate access to green financing. The unveiled by Julia Bazinova, Project Director of GIZ Pakistan's Better Governance and Business Environment project, in a meeting with Sindh Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Faisal Ahmed Uqaili, . The meeting focused on developing a coordinated approach to help SMEs comply with environmental standards, strengthen their operational capacity and adopt environmentally sustainable business practices. Under the initiative, GIZ will support businesses through technical assessments, advisory services and assistance in accessing financial institutions for environment-friendly investments. The programme will also help identify the specific needs of businesses and develop practical guidance on environmental compliance. Uqaili said the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) had a broader role than enforcing environmental laws and taking action against violations. Industrial enterprises also needed guidance and facilitation to meet environmental requirements. He said the provincial Environment Department would work with businesses to understand their challenges and identify workable solutions, while closer coordination between SEPA and GIZ's technical teams would help improve the implementation of environmental standards. The secretary also disclosed that around 70 per cent of the department's processes had been digitised. Further reforms were underway to introduce digital systems for geo-tagging environmental inspectors' visits, online payments and the processing of no-objection certificates (NOCs), he said. Bazinova welcomed the department's cooperation and stressed the importance of information-sharing and coordination between technical teams and relevant government agencies. She said technical assessments, tailored advisory services and access to green financing would be important in helping SMEs strengthen their businesses while meeting international environmental requirements. The meeting also discussed improving environmental monitoring, training departmental officials and inspectors, strengthening laboratory capacity and promoting cleaner industrial practices. SEPA Director General Dr Ashiq Ali Langa, GIZ technical advisers, environmental adviser Nauman Sheikh and information officer Murad Waheed also attended the meeting. Participants agreed that effective environmental compliance among businesses would require an integrated approach combining regulatory enforcement, technical guidance, training and financial support. The collaboration is expected to help SMEs improve compliance and move towards more sustainable business operations. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026