SALU Khairpur, SDPI Islamabad, and Embassy of Denmark Join Academic Leaders in Unified Call for Climate Action at Landmark Green Skills Workshop.
SALU Khairpur, SDPI Islamabad, and Embassy of Denmark Join Academic Leaders in Unified Call for Climate Action at Landmark Green Skills Workshop.
The workshop, jointly organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), the Embassy of Denmark, and Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) Khairpur, brought together faculty and students from five universities across Sindh — BNB Women University, MUET, BBS-UTECH, and Khairpur Agriculture Engineering College.
Press Release
Dated 2-9 2025
Academic Leaders Issue Unified Call for Climate Action at Landmark Green Skills Workshop in SALU Khairpur
A powerful consensus on the urgent need for sustainable practices and youth empowerment emerged today as Vice Chancellors from leading universities addressed the workshop tilted "Green Skills Program: Empowering Future Leaders for Sustainable Impact."
The workshop, jointly organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the Embassy of Denmark in collaboration with Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), brought together faculty and students from five universities across Sindh.
The gathering featured addresses from the region's top academics, each underscoring the critical juncture at which Pakistan finds itself.
Speaking as Chief Guest, Meritorious Professor Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar, Vice Chancellor of The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development, Khairpur, delivered a stark warning rooted in cause and effect. “If we act against nature, nature will react,” he stated, pointing to the catastrophic floods of 2025, 2022 and 2010 as direct consequences of occupying natural waterways.
Dr. Mahar emphasized the practical value of the training, noting its focus on crucial skills like carbon estimation. He suggested attendees to rethink resource use, advocating for a paradigm of producing more with less water and harnessing Pakistan's immense, and underutilized, solar energy potential.
He outlined a vision for a circular economy, citing examples from using biomass for clean energy to recycling wastewater, and urged the audience to adopt long-term, sustainable thinking in all endeavors.
In his presidential address, Meritorious Professor Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Khushk, Vice Chancellor of SALU, provided a detailed analysis of Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities.
He framed climate change as a profound social, economic, and moral crisis, highlighting five key threats: critical water scarcity, severe agricultural vulnerability, increased natural disasters, polluting energy dependence, and a dangerous urban air quality crisis.
Linking these challenges to rapid population growth and unsustainable practices, Dr. Khushk issued a direct call to action for the academic community. The most notable announcement was the creation of a practical pathway for students through internships with SDPI and other institutions, enabling them to gain hands-on experience in policymaking and advocacy.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated the representative of SDPI, the Embassy of Denmark in Pakistan, and all fellow Vice Chancellors for their participation and for deputing their faculty and students to attend the workshop. He also commended Prof. Dr. Naveed Shaikh, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Noor Ahmed Shaikh, Dr. Ali Nawaz Soomro, and their team for their sincere efforts in successfully organizing the event.
Mr. Peter Emil Nielsen, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Denmark in Pakistan, in his message emphasized Denmark’s continued commitment to working with Pakistan on advancing sustainable solutions. He recalled that in 2022, Denmark and Pakistan had developed a comprehensive framework engagement plan, which laid the foundation for long-term cooperation on just and sustainable solutions.
Highlighting the Green Skills Program as a key component of this partnership, he said the initiative was not just about training but about equipping the youth with knowledge and skills to face the pressing climate challenges Pakistan is encountering today. He extended heartfelt condolences to the people affected by recent floods in Pakistan and expressed hope that the program would enable participants to learn, innovate, and create sustainable pathways together.
Messages of support were also delivered by Guest of Honour, Prof. Dr. Hafeez Rehman Mangio, Chairman, Department of Post Harvest and Process Engineering, Khairpur Agriculture Engineering College, Khairpur and by Mr. Sarmad Aftab on behalf of VC The Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University, Sukkur.
The event commenced with welcome remarks from Prof. Dr. Noor Ahmed Shaikh, Dean of Physical Sciences at SALU, and an introduction to the Green Skills Program by Engr. Ahad Nazir of SDPI.
The proceedings were conducted by the program's focal person, Dr. Ali Nawaz Soomro of SALU, while Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Dr Naveed Ahmed Shaikh was the host of event.
The unified message from leadership was clear: combating climate change requires equipping the next generation with practical green skills, fostering innovation, and encouraging collaboration across institutions to turn formidable challenges into opportunities for a resilient Pakistan.
Later, the guests of the event were decorated with cultural gift, Ajrak.
Faculty members and a large number of Students from Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, The Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University, Sukkur, The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development, Khairpur, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (SZAB Campus), Khairpur Mir's and Khairpur Agriculture Engineering College, Khairpur.
Among them, Dr Israr Ahmed Memon, Ms. Sadia Satti project Associate SDPI, Ahad Nazir Associate Research Fellow, Ubaid UR Rehman Zia Senior Research Associate SDPI, Rabail Phulpoto, and others were present during the inaugural session of workshop.
Dr Sahib Oad
Media Studies
SALU Khairpur Mir's
