Karachi: Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Acting President FPCCI and Ms. Maria Jose Poddey, Country Director, GIZ Pakistan, have signed the MoU between FPCCI & GIZ to establish Responsible Business Helpdesk (RBH) at FPCCI in the esteemed presence of Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, Honorable Federal Minister for Commerce, Pakistan and Ms. Svenja Schulze, Honorable Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation & Development (BMZ), Germany.
Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Acting President FPCCI, apprised that the business community of Pakistan deeply appreciates the unwavering support of German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for its substantial contribution to Pakistan’s economic development. The RBH platform, supported by BMZ, is instrumental in helping textile sector of Pakistan to adapt to the new EU regulations; ensuring that Pakistani exporters meet international standards of human and environmental responsibility.
Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, Honorable Federal Minister for Commerce, Pakistan, elaborated that the government of Pakistan is committed to promote international best practices and human rights standards in Pakistan to enable swift growth in Pakistani exports.
Underscoring the importance of FPCCI and GIZ initiative, Mr. Jam Kamal Khan added that there has been a growing recognition of the importance of human rights in business globally. Voluntary standards on human rights and business; such as, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; the International Labor Organization Conventions or the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, establishing the international framework to ensure that companies respect human rights is of utmost importance.
Ms. Svenja Schulze, Honorable Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation & Development (BMZ), Germany, highlighted that the general objective of this memorandum of understanding (MoU) is to establish – within the Business Coordinating Council – an advisory center for companies on environmental due diligence and human rights.
The helpdesk is aimed at providing awareness, advisory, training and dialogue services to large and small companies to improve the implementation of human rights due diligence in supply chains in Pakistan.
Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Acting President FPCCI, enlisted the specific objectives of RBH at FPCCI as: (i) establish a joint plan for the development of RBH Pakistan’s portfolio of services for companies (ii) create a microsite for RBH Pakistan on the FPCCI website (iii) open a physical space as an RBH Pakistan office for the attention of companies and allies (iv) develop a sustainability plan for the integration of RBH Pakistan within the FPCCI, beyond the term of this MOU.
Mr. Tariq Khan Jadoon, VP FPCCI; Mr. Karim Aziz Malik, In-Charge Capital Office, FPCCI; Malik Sohail Hussain, Chairman Coordination, FPCCI; Mr. Majyd Aziz, former President, Employer Federation of Pakistan (EFP); Sahibzadi Mahin Khan, President of Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Korangi (WCCIK); Ms. Aneela Iftikhar, Women Chamber Multan; high-ranking officials from stakeholder institutions and prominent business personalities were also on the august occasion.
