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Pakistan
Tobacco control policies and the health of Adolescents in Pakistan (TAP): a multi-method study
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
MRC AGHRB Award with the aim to inform policies on plain packaging and taxation in Pakistan in order to reduce tobacco uptake and use in adolescents thereby improving their health and preventing premature deaths and disabilities in later life
Global Programme on Sustainability
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The programme supports sustainable economic growth that is both long-lasting and resilient to climate-related stressors. It does this through the integration of natural capital into decision making by governments, the private sector and financial institutions. The inability to value natural capital can undermine long-term growth and critically, the livelihoods of the poorest people dependent on ecosystems for their livelihoods. This programme directly addresses this challenge by (i) investing in data and research on natural capital; (ii) assisting countries to integrate this analysis into government policy making; and (iii) integrating this data and analysis into financial sector decision making.
Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a widespread and lucrative criminal activity causing major global environmental and social harm. The IWT has been estimated to be worth up to £17 billion a year. Nearly 6,000 different species of fauna and flora are impacted, with almost every country in the world playing a role in the illicit trade. The UK government is committed to tackling illegal trade of wildlife products and is a long-standing leader in efforts to eradicate the IWT. Defra manages the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which is a competitive grants scheme with the objective of tackling IWT and, in doing so, contributing to sustainable development in developing countries. Projects funded under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund address one, or more, of the following themes: • Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT, • Strengthening law enforcement, • Ensuring effective legal frameworks, • Reducing demand for IWT products. By 2023 over £51 million has been committed to 157 projects since the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund was established in 2013. This page contains information about Rounds 7 onwards. For information about Rounds 1 to 6, please see the IWTCF website -https://iwt.challengefund.org.uk/
Darwin Initiative
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The Darwin Initiative is the UK’s flagship international challenge fund for biodiversity conversation and poverty reduction, established at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Darwin Initiative is a grant scheme working on projects that aim to slow, halt, or reverse the rates of biodiversity loss and degradation, with associated reductions in multidimensional poverty. To date, the Darwin Initiative has awarded more than £195m to over 1,280 projects in 159 countries to enhance the capability and capacity of national and local stakeholders to deliver biodiversity conservation and multidimensional poverty reduction outcomes in low and middle-income countries. More information at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/the-darwin-initiative. This page contains information about Rounds 27 onwards. For information about Rounds 1 to 26, please see the Darwin Initiative website -https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/
Partition of Identity: An exploration of Belonging in Bengalis in Pakistan, 1971- 2021
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY & INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY
Following the violent Liberation War of 1971 in which Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan, there was a wave of migration from Bangladesh to the more economically stable Pakistan. Often settling in Sindh province, particularly Karachi, these Bengali migrants have participated widely in the Pakistani economy. Many have been refused citizenship rights in line with the Pakistan Citizenship Act of 1951 and despite their Pakistan-born children and grandchildren having little direct knowledge of Bangladesh, they remain without official documentation. This can create challenges in everyday activities (around education, employment and health) and strengthen the idea that they are not 'true' Pakistani citizens as emphasised by a wider state narrative. Recently, with the arrival of a newly elected government, momentum has been building towards granting the community full rights. Moreover, with the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's creation in 2021 drawing ever closer, our project comes at a critical time. Our research takes place in 3 phases and overall, we aim to investigate how the identities and contributions of these Bengali migrants are understood within the community, and how they have they been understood by a wider Pakistani state narrative since 1971. Furthermore, we aim to understand how these two accounts influence each other. No existing record of this group exists. By co-producing a new history of identity, activism, migration memory and belonging with our interviewees and arts partners, we will ensure that the voices of Pakistani Bengalis are recorded and heard. Our sample will be diverse including Pakistani Bengali men, women and young people of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our project will: - transform academic and public understandings of how lack of citizenship influences social identity and sense of belonging, and stimulates resistance, among Bengalis in Pakistan, particularly in young people. This will be through creating written and aural records from this group, accessible for anyone to read or listen to. - expand understandings of how social representations of minority groups can influence their treatment and social positioning in the developing world - enhance awareness of the Pakistani Bengali minority group in terms of its cultural heritage and socio-economic contribution to Pakistan through the range of project outputs The project will be conducted with a series of partners based in the UK and Pakistan. These include: UCL, Where the PI is based, Lahore University of Management Science, where the Co-I is based, the Citizens Archive of Pakistan, National College of Arts, Lahore Students Union and Pakistan Institute for Education and Labour Research. Our partners will be involved to differing degrees in the 3 research phases. In Phase 1 we will conduct a strategic search through historical, policy and media documents for depiction of the community. This will inform the interview and archival elicitation work in Phases 2 and 3. It will also give information on wider state and media representation of this group. Phase 2 will involve oral history interviews and archival elicitation with 48 adults and 30 young people. We will also conduct art workshops with young people. Here we will gather information on community representation of self. In Phase 3, artists and musicians will re-imagine both state representation and also community representations to produce new outputs based on the community. By the end of the project, we will have created and developed a new oral history archive, art and music based on the research, a documentary, a website, online exhibition, museum exhibition, two output events, media articles, 3 journal articles and co-edited book. Most importantly, we will advance the field by generating important new knowledge regarding the Bengali community in Pakistan following their migration in 1971 and ensure that their stories are told and voices are heard.
Super-efficient Sustainable Cooling Solution for All Applications (S2Cool)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Context In June 2023, Pakistan experienced extreme temperatures exceeding 52.2°C, a level at which human cells begin to cook, blood thickens, muscles constrict around the lungs, and the brain is deprived of oxygen. This severe heatwave resulted in the death of 120,000 people, the loss of 26 billion potential labour hours (equivalent to $16 billion in lost income), and up to 9% of the country's GDP. The extreme heat, coupled with frequent power outages, worsened the vulnerabilities of socially deprived communities and women, leading to increased hospitalizations and miscarriages, as reported by the UNDP and the National Commission for the Status of Women (NCSW). Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director in South Asia, called for urgent global action as these heatwaves severely impacted human rights in Pakistan. Co-creation & Co-designing In response to the crisis, the Pakistan Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Society organized the 28th International Exhibition and Conference in June 2023. A working group led by Dr. Shahzad, consisting of researchers, stakeholders, and end users, was established to identify the issue and develop potential solutions. The group held its third meeting in December 2023 at the ASHRAE UK Chapter conference at Loughborough, where UK researchers and solution providers were invited to join this international effort. Currently, the working group includes over 50 representatives from Pakistani and UK institutions and industries. Aims and Objectives The S2Cool project represents a pioneering collaboration between the UK and partners in Pakistan. The primary aim is to develop a novel, low-cost, and energy-efficient cooling solution and capacity building platform. The primary objectives of the S2Cool project are: Design and Development: Develop and test the 20kW Novel Indirect Evaporative Cooler (NIEC) and its integration with Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) systems. AI Framework Development: Develop and implement an AI framework for process optimization and system integration. GESI and EDI Evaluations: Conduct GESI and EDI assessments to ensure equitable benefits for all community members. Performance and Impact Assessment: Assess performance through life cycle costing, and evaluate social, economic, and sustainability impacts. Technology Scale-up and Commercialization: Establish a framework for technology scaling and commercialization. Capacity Building Platform and Knowledge Dissemination: Develop online platform, conduct training and community engagement sessions, and share knowledge and findings. Potential Applications and Benefits The proposed system is versatile, applicable in residential, commercial, industrial, and vehicular settings, including buses. Its benefits include improved comfort, health, productivity, energy efficiency, and equipment preservation. This project will primarily advance UNSDGs 7 and 13, while also supporting goals 3, 5, 9, and 11 by reducing energy use in air conditioning and lowering emissions to combat climate change and address energy inequity in Pakistan. Ayrton Challenge and Theme The S2Cool project addresses the Ayrton Challenge area of "super-efficient demand." The project aims to develop a cooling solution that is highly energy-efficient, making it suitable for a country with limited energy resources and high electricity costs. ODA Compliance The S2Cool project is compliant with Official Development Assistance (ODA) guidelines, targeting a critical development issue in Pakistan, a low-income country. The project aims to improve living conditions, enhance productivity, and contribute to economic development by providing an affordable and energy-efficient cooling solution. By addressing the impacts of extreme heatwaves and supporting sustainable development goals, the project aligns with ODA objectives of poverty reduction and sustainable development in developing countries.
Habib Bank Ltd.
British International Investment plc
Habib Bank, now referred to as HBL, was the first commercial bank established in Pakistan in 1947. Over the years, HBL has maintained its position as the largest private sector bank with over 1,700 branches and 2,000 ATMs globally and a customer base of ten million plus.
Metro Wind Power Limited
British International Investment plc
In partnership with Gul Ahmed Metro Group we have formed the Metro-BII Renewables joint venture to develop and operate up to 500MW of renewable energy assets in Pakistan. Through the joint venture, British International Investment will acquire a significant minority stake in Metro Wind Power Limited, an under-construction 60MW windfarm project, developed by Gul Ahmed Metro Group.
Metro Wind Power Limited
British International Investment plc
In partnership with Gul Ahmed Metro Group we have formed the Metro-BII Renewables joint venture to develop and operate up to 500MW of renewable energy assets in Pakistan. Through the joint venture, British International Investment will acquire a significant minority stake in Metro Wind Power Limited, an under-construction 60MW windfarm project, developed by Gul Ahmed Metro Group.
Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Limited
British International Investment plc
Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered plc. It is the oldest and largest international bank in Pakistan
Techxila Fund I
British International Investment plc
Techxila Fund I is a venture capital fund managed by Fatima Gobi Ventures that invests in early stage start-ups in Pakistan.
Daraz.pk
British International Investment plc
Equity investment supporting growth of an online retailer to buy from local clothing suppliers and to create local logistics jobs.
Gulpur Hydropower
British International Investment plc
Debt investment in the construction, operation and maintenance of a 102 MW hydropower plant, to bring down the cost of power and reduce reliance on thermal power.
Habib Bank Ltd
British International Investment plc
Equity investment supporting the privatisation of Pakistan?s largest commercial bank, and restarting CDC?s direct investing in the country.
Zephyr Power
British International Investment plc
Pakistan has an estimated 6,000 megawatt shortfall at peak times and suffers regular power blackouts that affect millions of people and businesses. Much of the country?s current power is supplied by imported heavy fuel oils. Zephyr Power is developing a 50 megawatt wind farm near Karachi to provide a more reliable power source and help reduce the number of blackouts in the region. Our investment will help boost the country's power supply, providing an additional source of clean, renewable energy.
Zephyr Wind Farm
British International Investment plc
Pakistan has an estimated 6,000 megawatt shortfall at peak times and suffers regular power blackouts that affect millions of people and businesses. Much of the country?s current power is supplied by imported heavy fuel oils. Zephyr Power is developing a 50 megawatt wind farm near Karachi to provide a more reliable power source and help reduce the number of blackouts in the region. Our investment will help boost the country's power supply, providing an additional source of clean, renewable energy.
Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Limited
British International Investment plc
Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered plc. It is the oldest and largest international bank in Pakistan
Habib Bank Ltd.
British International Investment plc
Habib Bank, now referred to as HBL, was the first commercial bank established in Pakistan in 1947. Over the years, HBL has maintained its position as the largest private sector bank with over 1,700 branches and 2,000 ATMs globally and a customer base of ten million plus.
Gulpur Hydropower
British International Investment plc
The Gulpur Hydropower plant is one of several World Bank-funded projects located in Pakistan and is part of the Pakistan Government’s least-cost energy generation plan. The plant is being developed by Mira Power, a subsidiary of Korean company KOSEP, and lies on the Poonch River about 170km from Islamabad.
Zephyr Power
British International Investment plc
Zephyr Power (PVT) Limited is a company incorporated in Pakistan which is constructing a 50 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Gharo, near Karachi.