ICI Pakistan partners with CERB to highlight the importance of sustainability practices

KARACHI: ICI Pakistan Limited partnered with the Pakistan Business Council’s Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB) to organise a workshop and panel discussion highlighting the importance of sustainability practices. The workshop held at Karachi’s Marriott Hotel on February 13, 2020 was attended by participants from leading companies in Pakistan, including Lucky Cement, Pakistan Cables, Industrial Steels, Tundra Fonder and International Finance Corporation among others.

In June 2019, under the “SDG Leadership Programme” of CERB, ICI Pakistan Limited was nominated as an SDG Leader for United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.

As a socially responsible company and as the SDG 12 leader, during the workshop and panel discussion, ICI Pakistan Limited shared its experience of implementing sustainability practices and creating awareness regarding adopting responsible business practices.

Action on responsible consumption and production is essential in preventing irreversible environmental degradation. Companies can play their part in reducing their social and environmental impact by focusing on adopting sustainability in their operations and supply chains. SDG 12 encourages companies to become more transparent and report on their practices. 

Sabir Mahmood, Corporate HSE Manager at ICI Pakistan Limited, during the panel discussion stated, “As a growing and socially responsible business, ICI Pakistan has made tangible progress in its commitments to becoming a more sustainable organisation. The Company has always been a thought leader and innovator in the area of sustainability.”

Noman Hasan, Executive Director at Lucky Cement Limited added, “Lucky Cement also believes in sustainable business operations at all levels and with this philosophy we are elated to share our experiences and expertise with other players in the industry for an environment friendly and prosperous future”.

On achieving the SDG 12 targets, Wasif Mehmood, Director Technical at Industrial Steels Limited said that, “The SDG-12 can be effectively achieved by greater collaboration between organisations in Pakistan and globally in terms of sharing of knowledge, technologies and best practices.”

The panelists also emphasised on the link between sustainability practices and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Ms. Mariam Durrani of Pakistan Cables said, “Business leaders should see CSR programmes as creative opportunities to connect with communities to generate insights that help develop a broader vision for the business itself.”

“By incorporating sustainability across their value chain and reporting on it, companies can move towards a circular economy that is better for people and the planet,” commented Mr. Fuad Hashimi, Executive Director at CERB.

At the end of the workshop and panel discussion, Ehsan Malik, CEO Pakistan Business Council distributed awards to the participants.

The workshop and panel discussion were the first of a series of workshops on UN SDG 12 that ICI Pakistan Limited will organise in collaboration with CERB over a two-year period. ICI Pakistan Limited aims to integrate sustainability into every area of business and create awareness regarding it for the benefit of all stakeholders.

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