Islamabad: Speakers at the second day of the 28th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC), organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), called for the creation of a SAARC-like sub-regional body to resolve South Asian countries' problems within local contexts. The suggestion came during a roundtable titled 'South Asia in a Changing World', where experts emphasized regional cooperation and self-reliance amid global uncertainty.

SDPI Executive Director Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri said renewed discussions about reviving regional organizations like SAARC are crucial to overcoming South Asia's complex challenges. He referred to a Bangladeshi minister's recent remarks highlighting the importance of reinvigorating SAARC despite its stagnation.

Former government advisor Imran Shauket described SAARC as 'on life support,' stressing that the region must pursue economic integration even without political cohesion. Michael Kugelman, former Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, said that while SAARC may be 'dead in the water,' it remains one of the few organizations where all eight members are equals.

At another session, National Assembly Standing Committee Chairman Naveed Qamar warned that Pakistan's debt burden had become unsustainable and the country could no longer continue borrowing unchecked. He urged parliament to assert control over borrowing and enforce fiscal discipline, adding that repeated reckless borrowing across successive governments has pushed the economy to a breaking point.

MNA Dr. Farooq Sattar stressed prevention as key to managing the rising debt crisis, while Muzzammil Aslam, Advisor to KP Finance Ministry, called for an independent debt-reporting authority to ensure transparency. Mohsin Mushtaq of the Finance Ministry said Pakistan now follows IMF-aligned reporting standards for transparency and market confidence.

Speaking at another session titled 'Transformative, Sustainable, and Equitable Energy Transition,' PPIB Director Faisal Sharif said Pakistan must accelerate climate finance mobilization and renewable adoption to achieve emission-cutting goals - including 62% renewable energy in the grid by 2030 under the IGCEP.

Bangladesh's Ambassador to Thailand, Faiyaz Mirshid Kazi, noted that renewable energy forms only 1.58% of the region's supply, while imported energy constitutes 16.73%. He said Bangladesh imports over 2,600 MW of electricity from India to meet growing demand.

ESCAP's Subathirai Sivakumaran highlighted Pakistan's dependence on imported fossil fuels, which has worsened energy affordability and circular debt beyond Rs2.6 trillion. SDPI's Dr. Khalid Waleed said the energy transition offers major opportunities but also serious policy challenges for Pakistan's sustainability.

At a report launch titled 'Going Against the Grain: Pakistan's Geoeconomic Pivot Amidst Geopolitical Chaos,' former National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yousuf argued that Pakistan's security depends more on cooperative geo-economics than on military posturing. He advocated a 'non-aligned, multi-aligned' foreign policy and regional economic connectivity as essential to stability.

MiTE University Rector Dr. Huma Baqai said the report champions pragmatic economic diplomacy, while former foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry praised the shift from coercive to cooperative geo-economics. Lt Gen (retd) Aamir Riaz said the National Security Policy aims to ensure socioeconomic rebalance and resilience.

At a high-level dialogue on 'Rewiring Economic and Fiscal Planning for Climate Prosperity,' PM's Coordinator on Commerce, Rana Ihsaan Afzal, declared climate change a 'national economic emergency,' urging integration of climate sustainability into economic and export policies. He said, 'Climate is not a curse but an opportunity to grow and protect our people.'

Speakers from IRENA, UNESCAP, and CVF said South Asia requires $190 billion annually to address climate threats and that international cooperation remains crucial for effective implementation.