KARACHI: Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair said that Pakistan’s economic growth and societal prosperity can be achieved through investment in infrastructure and energy sector which will, in turn, generate revenues for public welfare.
He said this while addressing the 7th International Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit and Awards by The Professionals Network (TPN) held at a local hotel where 50 corporate companies were honoured with CSR awards.
“The government is working to enhance fiscal spaces across the country that will engender financial resources which will be used to develop infrastructure and power projects. Such investment will give rise to business activity and improve healthcare and educational facilities,” Muhammad Zubair said.
“Highways, airports, railways, and power projects are indispensable as they pave the way towards the economic and societal prosperity of a country,” he added.
Governor Sindh mentioned that the federal government has increased federal revenues from Rs1.9 trillion to Rs4 trillion since the beginning of its current tenure, due to which education and healthcare facilities have witnessed a marked improvement and the electricity shortage has considerably decreased.
“An amount of $4.5 billion has been invested in Thar so far on power projects alone which has led to a considerable improvement in the healthcare and educational facilities in the region,” he stated and stressed that the “The area of literacy is phenomenal but it should be addressed by the government along with the private sector with immediate executions and sustainable solutions.”
He further said that the corporate sector is playing a vital role in building the nation by helping the underprivileged through welfare projects related to healthcare, education and environment under its respective CSR campaigns.
“The federal government will continue playing its due role in ensuring the welfare of traders and businessmen of Karachi besides enhancing industrial activities in the port city,” he assured.
A large number of people and members of the corporate sector also attended the ceremony.
The program had six different sessions addressed by CSR professionals and people from the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) sector. They discussed developments in healthcare, education, environment, sports and other social fields in the country.
TPN Founder and CEO Mehmood Tareen informed that this CSR event is the first and only registered CSR event of Pakistan which also has copyright protection.
“We have received a very encouraging response from the participants and will continue to provide a professional forum for all stakeholders to discuss and promote CSR activities aimed at the welfare of the community,” he said.
In the opening session, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui and Ateeq Ur Rehman addressed the audience.
Atteq Ur Rehman appealed to the financial institutions and corporate bodies to increase their CSR budgets, in order to help the NGOs and humanitarian institutions in addressing the prevalent social issues.
Carnelian Senior Associate Shireen Naqvi spoke on the topic, “From CSR to SSR (Sustainable Social Responsibility),” Indus Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Abdul Bari Khan spoke on, “Vision of Indus Health Network with present and future plans” and Reckitt Benckiser Chief Executive Fahad Ashraf shared his speech on the topic, “The better way to do business: driving business with a purpose.”
As many as 50 corporate companies were honoured with CSR awards in various categories for their exemplary CSR contributions during the year 2017. The chief guest of the closing ceremony Business Man Group Vice Chairman Anjum Nisar distributed awards among the winners.
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) received three awards in the areas of health, education, sustainable development and relief categories.
An exclusive “CSR Gallery” was also displayed on the occasion comprising of 15 stalls where the corporate companies and NGO’s showcased their exemplary CSR activities and initiatives for the promotion of CSR in Pakistan.
