Talha Khan & Hassan Anwar

Pakistan Environment Trust team

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Talha Khan & Hassan Anwar are the executive director & Program director of Pakistan Environment Trust (PET). After graduating, Khan worked at EnterpriseDB, which was his first job. EnterpriseDB came to an open house looking for talent.

Talha Khan: early life and education

Talha Khan was born in Islamabad. His father worked for the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. Khan did his early schooling in Islamabad before moving to Peshawar. [1]

Khan did his FSC at Islamia College. After college he went to GIK for an engineering degree and studied computer engineering, entering in 2002 and spending four years there. Khan said his theatre work was mostly at university, not in Islamabad's theatre scene. [1]

Khan later went to China to study for an MBA at the China Europe International Business School. He chose China to explore a part of the world that was growing and booming. Khan said the school was ranked fifth globally at the time. The school gave him a scholarship, and Khan said his MBA was self-financed. [1]

Talha Khan: career

After graduating, Khan worked at EnterpriseDB, which was his first job. EnterpriseDB came to an open house looking for talent. Khan worked with the company for three years. [1]

Khan left EnterpriseDB and joined a telecom company. He left Pakistan in 2009 on telecom projects and worked with a company in Eastern Europe that was a Vodafone subsidiary. In 2010 he spent time in the US, working with AT&T. Khan decided not to stay in the US, recalling his mother's words. [1]

Khan moved to Dubai in 2011. He resigned from his Dubai job after getting married. [1]

Khan moved to the UK in 2014. There he first worked at an HR consulting firm, and he joined McKinsey after working with that firm. At McKinsey, Khan was a senior engagement manager. His work focused on transformations, turning around companies in trouble, and his final projects there advised a sovereign wealth fund. [1]

Hassan Anwar: early life and education

Hassan Anwar's great-grandfather was one of the founders of WAPDA. Anwar comes from a family of engineers. He grew up in Lahore and did all his schooling there. [1]

Anwar did an undergraduate degree in economics at LUMS and graduated in 2011. He received a Fulbright scholarship for a master's degree in energy and environment at Duke. [1]

Hassan Anwar: career

Right after graduating, Anwar started work on a USAID project. UNEP offered him an internship that became a consultancy role. He took an opportunity to work with the government of California. [1]

Anwar described climate finance as anything used to work on adaptation to climate change. His project linked California with Donetsk, a region of Ukraine. He said he saw Russian tanks move into Donetsk while the project was under way. [1]

Anwar was one of the founders or directors of a company. He and his partner at the time came to Pakistan and did a small assessment. Anwar said they started to form an organization. He said the consumers his team targeted were mainly boiler operators, and that a reliably supplied unit of biomass could cost 2,200 to 2,300 rupees. [1]

Anwar said his company's contract was with a government-owned private company, and that the contract became null and void. He said 56 companies created by the Punjab government were shut down. Anwar said they lost a lot of money. [1]

Anwar said the team was demotivated from the end of 2018. He said he parted ways from the organization. Anwar moved to Islamabad at the end of 2019. [1]

Pakistan Environment Trust

Khan joined Pakistan Environment Trust (PET). PET reached out to Anwar around mid-2020. Anwar described Khan as the ex-McKinsey consultant. Khan said his team was three people a year earlier and is now twelve people. [1]

Khan said PET was set up to take on the most complex climate problem in Pakistan, and that it is designed to mature its programs and spin them out as separate entities. He said PET aims to cut at least 10% of Pakistan's emissions in three to five years. Khan also said PET aims to mobilize $1 billion in three to five years to decarbonize Pakistan. [1]

Khan said PET's first area is the Net Zero Pakistan program, which convenes private sector firms. The program had 24 companies, 22 of them textile firms. He said PET presented Net Zero Pakistan at a summit, where brands showed excitement. [1]

Anwar said PET's role is to connect global buyers and market participants. [1]

Rhino reintroduction

Anwar said PET is working to bring one-horned rhinos back to Pakistan. He said one-horned rhinos were native to Pakistan, India and Nepal 200 years ago, and that the rhinos now live mainly with European zoo associations or private owners in the US. [1]

Anwar said two rhinos were brought to a national park in Bahawalpur about 40 years ago but did not breed. He said the national park facilities sit under the Punjab government. [1]

Anwar said the plan is to bring five to six rhinos. He said PET wants communities to take part in rhino conservation because they benefit economically. Anwar said the rhino population could reach about 30 to 32 in a 10-year plan. [1]

Views of Talha Khan

Khan said Pakistani industry performs well but does not show it abroad. He said Pakistan could become the green industrial capital of the world, and that Pakistani firms are building green products in automotive, refrigeration and air cooling. [1]

Khan said about 9 trillion dollars a year would need to be invested. He said Pakistan would face the loss of 15 to 20 million jobs. Khan also said the economic case for climate action needs to be championed as well. [1]

Khan said transport produces above 20% of Pakistan's emissions. He said focusing more on two-wheelers, three-wheelers or buses is a good point, and that carbon credits could let manufacturers subsidize green products in the market. [1]

Khan said Balochistan has large fertile land that has never been planted, and that fertility and water availability are two different issues. He said carbon will become a tradeable commodity. [1]

Khan said he is an optimist about Pakistan's future. He said Pakistan has no real choice but to treat climate change as an opportunity. [1]

Views of Hassan Anwar

Anwar said Pakistan is a carbon gold mine because of its low emissions. He said the carbon commodity market is expected to be around $100 billion by 2030, and that Pakistan is not yet meaningfully part of the carbon market. [1]

Anwar said extending the grid to parts of KP and Gilgit Baltistan is exorbitantly expensive. He said everyone in the community essentially pays for the micro hydro, and that there is a funding gap where a financing mechanism needs to come in. Anwar said the turbines are now designed and manufactured in Pakistan, and that farmers in DI Khan and Charsadda grow sugarcane that is largely organic. [1]

Anwar said about 7 trillion dollars a year is needed. He said Pakistan could lead in climate work and export its talent by 2050. [1]

Personal life

Khan's mother died of cancer in 2011. His wife took part in the decision to move back to Pakistan. Khan said culture is the biggest factor for people moving back to Pakistan, and that finding a way back to Pakistan is very difficult after living abroad. [1]

Timeline

2002
Talha Khan entered GIK and spent four years there.[1]
2009
Khan left Pakistan on telecom projects.[1]
2010
Khan spent the year in the US, working with AT&T.[1]
2011
Khan moved to Dubai.[1]
2011
Hassan Anwar graduated from LUMS.[1]
2014
Khan moved to the UK.[1]
2018
Anwar said the team was demotivated from the end of the year.[1]
2019
Anwar moved to Islamabad at the end of the year.[1]
2020
PET reached out to Anwar around mid-year.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2022-07-08 Pakistan is a carbon gold mine. Here's the plan. Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Where did Talha Khan & Hassan Anwar study?

Talha Khan did his FSC at Islamia College, studied computer engineering at GIK and went to China to study for an MBA at the China Europe International Business School. Hassan Anwar did an undergraduate degree in economics at LUMS. Anwar also received a Fulbright scholarship for a master's degree in energy and environment at Duke.[1]

Where is Talha Khan & Hassan Anwar from?

Talha Khan was born in Islamabad and did his early schooling there before moving to Peshawar. Hassan Anwar grew up in Lahore and did all his schooling there.[1]

What did Talha Khan do before joining Pakistan Environment Trust?

Talha Khan's first job was at EnterpriseDB, where he worked for three years. He later worked on telecom projects, moved to the UK in 2014 and joined McKinsey. At McKinsey he was a senior engagement manager.[1]

What is Hassan Anwar's career background?

Right after graduating, Hassan Anwar started work on a USAID project. UNEP offered him an internship that became a consultancy role, and he took an opportunity to work with the government of California. Anwar was also one of the founders or directors of a company, and he moved to Islamabad at the end of 2019.[1]

What does Talha Khan say Pakistan Environment Trust aims to do?

Talha Khan said PET was set up to take on the most complex climate problem in Pakistan. He said PET aims to cut at least 10% of Pakistan's emissions in three to five years. Khan also said it aims to mobilize $1 billion in three to five years to decarbonize Pakistan.[1]

What did Hassan Anwar say about bringing rhinos back to Pakistan?

Hassan Anwar said PET is working to bring one-horned rhinos back to Pakistan. He said the plan is to bring five to six rhinos. Anwar said the rhino population could reach about 30 to 32 in a 10-year plan.[1]

References

  1. Pakistan is a carbon gold mine. Here's the plan. . Thought Behind Things , 2022-07-08.
Show the source passages (104 statements)
  1. Talha Khan was born in Islamabad. I was born in Islamabad.
  2. Talha Khan's father worked for the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. My dad was in Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.
  3. Talha Khan did his early schooling in Islamabad before moving to Peshawar. I did my early schooling from Islamabad then I went to Peshawar.
  4. Talha Khan did his FSC at Islamia College. FSC main ne phir ki Islamia College mein.
  5. Talha Khan went to GIK for an engineering degree after college. college and then I went to GIK for my engineering degree.
  6. Talha Khan studied computer engineering at GIK. And what sort of engineering? Computer engineering.
  7. Talha Khan entered GIK in 2002 and spent four years there. 2002 mein I went to GIK and those four years were the best years of my life.
  8. After graduating, Talha Khan worked at EnterpriseDB. To char saal graduate kiya us ke baad phir I worked at a company called EnterpriseDB.
  9. EnterpriseDB came to an open house looking for talent. To woh aaye open house pe looking for talent.
  10. Talha Khan worked with EnterpriseDB for three years. Phir teen saal un ke sath raha tha.
  11. Talha Khan left EnterpriseDB and joined a telecom company. Then I left them and joined a telecom company.
  12. Talha Khan left Pakistan in 2009 on telecom projects. I left Pakistan in 2009 on different projects Telco ke.
  13. Talha Khan worked with a company in Eastern Europe that was a Vodafone subsidiary. Eastern Europe mein Mtel ke naam se hoti thi company to un ke sath kaam kiya woh Vodafone ki subsidiary thi.
  14. Talha Khan spent 2010 in the US, working with AT&T. To 2010 main ne US mein guzara. AT&T ke sath.
  15. Talha Khan decided not to stay in the US, recalling his mother's words. To mujhe amma ki baat yaad aayi to main ne kaha nahi main ne America mein nahi rehna.
  16. Talha Khan moved to Dubai in 2011. And then I went to Dubai in 2011.
  17. Talha Khan's mother died of cancer in 2011. Phir 2011 ke andar Allah bakhshe my mother passed away because of cancer at that time
  18. Talha Khan resigned from his Dubai job after getting married. Shadi ke baad jab shadi hui to main ne resign kar diya apni Dubai wali naukri se.
  19. Talha Khan went to China to study for an MBA. Aur phir us ke baad phir main MBA karne China chala gaya.
  20. Talha Khan chose China to explore a part of the world that was growing and booming. I want to explore that side of the world which is growing and booming
  21. Talha Khan studied at the China Europe International Business School. Ek China Europe International Business School hai.
  22. Talha Khan said the school was ranked fifth globally at the time. It was ranked number five at that time globally.
  23. The school gave Talha Khan a scholarship. Aur us pe main ne apply kiya to in logon ne mujhe scholarship de di.
  24. Talha Khan said his MBA was self-financed. MBA was my my MBA was self financed.
  25. Talha Khan moved to the UK in 2014. Do bilkul 2014 mein phir UK chala gaya main.
  26. In the UK, Talha Khan first worked at an HR consulting firm. I started with a company called Corn Ferry Hay Group jo ke HR consulting karti thi.
  27. Talha Khan joined McKinsey after working with the HR consulting firm. Phir ek do saal un ke sath raha teen saal phir us ke baad McKinsey join kar li.
  28. At McKinsey, Talha Khan was a senior engagement manager. McKinsey ke andar there is a role called senior engagement manager
  29. Talha Khan's McKinsey work focused on transformations, turning around companies in trouble. Aur mera focus zyada tar jo McKinsey mein tha woh transformations ke upar tha
  30. Talha Khan's final McKinsey projects advised a sovereign wealth fund. meri aakhri projects jo thay woh main ek sovereign wealth fund ko advice kar raha tha
  31. Talha Khan joined Pakistan Environment Trust. then I joined Pakistan Environment Trust
  32. Talha Khan said culture is the biggest factor for people moving back to Pakistan. I think culture is the biggest thing jo sab se zyada logon ko impact karta hai.
  33. Talha Khan said finding a way back to Pakistan is very difficult after living abroad. But to find a way back to Pakistan is very very very difficult.
  34. Talha Khan's wife took part in the decision to move back to Pakistan. Obviously she was in the decision with me before we decided to come
  35. Talha Khan said his theatre work was mostly at university, not in Islamabad's theatre scene. Nahi, maine Islamabad main theater mein itna kaam nahi kiya. It is more mostly from the university side.
  36. Hassan Anwar's great-grandfather was one of the founders of WAPDA. So mere par dada jo the jab woh Pakistan aaye the, toh he actually was one of the founders of WAPDA
  37. Hassan Anwar comes from a family of engineers. hamare khandani engineer engineers hi paida karte aaye hain.
  38. Hassan Anwar grew up in Lahore and did all his schooling there. I grew up in Lahore, spent all my schooling there.
  39. Hassan Anwar did an undergraduate degree in economics at LUMS. I ended up going to LUMS, economics mein maine sort of undergrad kiya.
  40. Hassan Anwar graduated from LUMS in 2011. So I graduated in 2011 from LUMS
  41. Right after graduating, Hassan Anwar started work on a USAID project. right after graduation jo tha main I started working on a USAID project.
  42. Hassan Anwar received a Fulbright scholarship for a master's degree in energy and environment at Duke. So I applied for a sort of a master's degree in energy and environment from Duke. So I got this, woh Fulbright scholarship mili
  43. UNEP offered Hassan Anwar an internship that became a consultancy role. I got an internship offer from UNEP in Geneva, which then converted into a consultancy role.
  44. Hassan Anwar took an opportunity to work with the government of California. So I got this opportunity with the government of California to work with
  45. Hassan Anwar described climate finance as anything used to work on adaptation to climate change. So I would basically explain climate finance is essentially anything jo bhi cheez jiske liye aap adaptation pe kaam kar rahe hain to climate change
  46. Hassan Anwar's project linked California with Donetsk, a region of Ukraine. basically we were linking up California to Donetsk, which is a region in Ukraine
  47. Hassan Anwar said he saw Russian tanks move into Donetsk while the project was under way. literally we saw Russian tanks rolling into Ukraine into Donetsk
  48. Hassan Anwar was one of the founders or directors of a company. I was, you know, one of the founders or the directors of a company
  49. Hassan Anwar and his partner at the time came to Pakistan and did a small assessment. Toh mera jo partner tha us waqt, you know hum Pakistan aaye, humne choti si assessment ki.
  50. Hassan Anwar said they started to form an organization. So we ended basically started to sort of form the organization.
  51. Hassan Anwar said the consumers his team targeted were mainly boiler operators. the kind of consumers we were targeting were basically boiler operators
  52. Hassan Anwar said a reliably supplied unit of biomass could cost 2,200 to 2,300 rupees. ek unit of biomass, if done reliably, you could get it for 2,200, 2,300 rupaye.
  53. Hassan Anwar said his company's contract was with a government-owned private company. woh is private company ke saath tha, which was government owned
  54. Hassan Anwar said the contract became null and void. So, the contract became null and void.
  55. Hassan Anwar said 56 companies created by the Punjab government were shut down. woh 56 companyan jo Punjab government ne banayi thi, jismein government ka case bana aur woh companyan band ho gayi
  56. Hassan Anwar said they lost a lot of money. we lost a lot of money
  57. Hassan Anwar said the team was demotivated from the end of 2018. end of 2018 onwards was when completely demotivate ho gaye the
  58. Hassan Anwar said he parted ways from the organization. Um, and I basically parted ways from the organization.
  59. Hassan Anwar moved to Islamabad at the end of 2019. So, I moved to Islamabad end of like 2019.
  60. PET reached out to Hassan Anwar around mid-2020. middle of 2020, right? That PET reached out
  61. Hassan Anwar described Talha Khan as the ex-McKinsey consultant. who better to go to than, uh, you know, our ex-McKinsey consultant, Talha.
  62. Talha Khan said his team was three people a year earlier and is now twelve people. aaj jab hum log teen logon ki team thi aaj se saal pehle, now hum 12 logon ki team ho gaye hain.
  63. Talha Khan said PET was set up to take on the most complex climate problem in Pakistan. Hum log, uh, ka jab PET establish hua toh idea yeh tha ke sabse jo complex problem hai Pakistan mein climate ko leke, usko uthaya jaye.
  64. Talha Khan said PET is designed to mature its programs and spin them out as separate entities. Humne jo platforms banaye hain, un platforms ko bana ke unko mature karein aur mature karke unko hum nikalein organization se bahar
  65. Talha Khan said PET aims to cut at least 10% of Pakistan's emissions in three to five years. Hamara ek impact driver hai ke hum Pakistan mein at least 10% emissions jo hain, woh agle teen se paanch saal mein kam karna chahte hain.
  66. Talha Khan said PET aims to mobilize $1 billion in three to five years to decarbonize Pakistan. Hamara ambition yeh hai ke hum agle teen se paanch saal mein 1 billion dollars mobilize karein to decarbonize the country.
  67. Talha Khan said PET's first area is the Net Zero Pakistan program, which convenes private sector firms. Teen areas hain main. Ek hai Net Zero Pakistan ka program jiske upar hum log convene kar rahe hain private sector ko Pakistan mein to make that Net Zero commitment.
  68. Talha Khan said the Net Zero Pakistan program had 24 companies, 22 of them textile firms. isme hamare paas is time pe 24 companies hain, 22 textile hain is time saari leading
  69. Talha Khan said PET presented Net Zero Pakistan at a summit, where brands showed excitement. Magar us summit mein hum gaye aur humne jaake wahan jab Net Zero Pakistan ki baat ki ke hum yeh kar rahe hain aur yeh 22 companies aayi hui hain, toh brands ki taraf se bahut excitement thi.
  70. Talha Khan said Pakistani industry performs well but does not show it abroad. overall Pakistani industry kaam bahut acha kar rahi hai. Par uska problem yeh hai ke hum woh show hi nahi kar paate.
  71. Talha Khan said about 9 trillion dollars a year would need to be invested. 9 trillion dollar saal ke lagane padenge
  72. Talha Khan said Pakistan would face the loss of 15 to 20 million jobs. 15 se 20 million naukriyon ka hamein nuksan face karna padega Pakistan ko.
  73. Talha Khan said Pakistan could become the green industrial capital of the world. Uska matlab yeh hai ke Pakistan becomes the green industrial capital of the world.
  74. Talha Khan said Pakistani firms are building green products in automotive, refrigeration and air cooling. there's examples in automotive, there's example in refrigeration and air cooling and all of these, where we actually are building products that are green.
  75. Talha Khan said transport produces above 20% of Pakistan's emissions. I think transport contributes above 20% of our emissions.
  76. Talha Khan said focusing more on two-wheelers, three-wheelers or buses is a good point. focusing more on two wheelers, three wheelers or the buses is actually the good point.
  77. Talha Khan said carbon credits could let manufacturers subsidize green products in the market. carbon credit becomes a tool that the manufacturer can use to subsidize the product in the market.
  78. Talha Khan said the economic case for climate action needs to be championed as well. But the that economic narrative needs to be championed as well, right?
  79. Talha Khan said Balochistan has large fertile land that has never been planted. Massive pieces of land, Balochistan is a virgin land, jahan pe kabhi kuch plant hi nahi hua, bada fertile land hai.
  80. Talha Khan said fertility and water availability are two different issues. Fertility and water availability are two issues, two different issues, right?
  81. Talha Khan said he is an optimist about Pakistan's future. I mean, I am an optimist.
  82. Talha Khan said Pakistan has no real choice but to treat climate change as an opportunity. And I think we are looking at that as an opportunity because I don't think we have a choice to look at it in any other way.
  83. Talha Khan said carbon will become a tradeable commodity. Carbon is going to be a commodity, a tradeable commodity essentially.
  84. Hassan Anwar said Pakistan is a carbon gold mine because of its low emissions. we are a carbon gold mine so to speak.
  85. Hassan Anwar said the carbon commodity market is expected to be around $100 billion by 2030. By 2030 the market this market for this carbon commodity is expected to be around 100 billion dollars.
  86. Hassan Anwar said Pakistan is not yet meaningfully part of the carbon market. right now we're not sort of actually hum us market ka hissa hi nahi hai in a in any meaningful way.
  87. Hassan Anwar said extending the grid to parts of KP and Gilgit Baltistan is exorbitantly expensive. just in KP or in Gilgit Baltistan, it is matlab exorbitantly expensive
  88. Hassan Anwar said everyone in the community essentially pays for the micro hydro. So everyone in the community essentially pays for the micro hydro.
  89. Hassan Anwar said there is a funding gap where a financing mechanism needs to come in. there is a funding gap where a financing mechanism needs to come in
  90. Hassan Anwar said the turbines are now designed and manufactured in Pakistan. The turbines etc are now designed and manufactured in Pakistan.
  91. Hassan Anwar said farmers in DI Khan and Charsadda grow sugarcane that is largely organic. DI Khan aur Charsadda mein log sugarcane ugaate hain aur woh sugarcane actually not because of any external pressures woh kaafi had tak organic hai.
  92. Hassan Anwar said PET's role is to connect global buyers and market participants. hamara role ye hai ke un global jo buyers hain aur jo market ke jo sort of participants hain unko connect karaya jaye
  93. Hassan Anwar said about 7 trillion dollars a year is needed. woh jo 7 trillion dollars jo annually chahiye
  94. Hassan Anwar said Pakistan could lead in climate work and export its talent by 2050. by 2050, not only is Pakistan a leader in the climate space, but is also exporting some of that talent
  95. Hassan Anwar said PET is working to bring one-horned rhinos back to Pakistan. usme ye hai ke hum one horned rhinos ko leke aa rahe hain Pakistan
  96. Hassan Anwar said one-horned rhinos were native to Pakistan, India and Nepal 200 years ago. one horned rhinos agar aap aaj se 200 saal pehle jayein toh woh Pakistan, India, Nepal mein hi hote the.
  97. Hassan Anwar said the rhinos now live mainly with European zoo associations or private owners in the US. ya toh European Zoo Association ke paas hain ya US ke paas kuch private
  98. Hassan Anwar said two rhinos were brought to a national park in Bahawalpur. abhi do rhinos jo the actually woh laye gaye the Pakistan mein Lal Sohanra National Park Bahawalpur
  99. Hassan Anwar said two rhinos arrived at a national park in Bahawalpur about 40 years ago but did not breed. Lal Sohanra mein aaj se takreeban 40 saal pehle do rhinos aaye the. For whatever reason woh breed nahi kar paye
  100. Hassan Anwar said the national park facilities sit under the Punjab government. that is all sort of obviously under the aegis of the Punjab government
  101. Hassan Anwar said the plan is to bring five to six rhinos. hum paanch se cheh rhinos leke aayein
  102. Hassan Anwar said PET wants communities to take part in rhino conservation because they benefit economically. communities are involved in the conservation of the rhino primarily because they're economically benefiting from it
  103. Hassan Anwar said the rhino population could reach about 30 to 32 in a 10-year plan. I think the estimate agar hum 10 saal ka plan dekhte hain toh it is around 30-32
  104. EnterpriseDB was Talha Khan's first job. 04:01 Talha’s first job - EnterpriseDB