News Desk
KARACHI: Nestlé Pakistan has won the First Prize for ‘Living the Global Compact Best Practices Sustainability Award 2019’,in the category of multinational companiesand declared the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champion at the business sustainability moot and award ceremony, hosted by the UN Global Compact Network Pakistan.
This is the fourth consecutive time that Nestlé Pakistan has been recognised for its continuous commitment towards contributing to healthier future in line with SDGs and the ten principles of the UN Global Compact embedded in the way it conducts business.
“It is an honour to be recognised by UNGC for the fourth time in a row. This not only shows Nestlé’s commitment and dedication to the SDGs but also motivates us further to continue our mission in line with UNGC principles,” said Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Pakistan on the occasion.He added that Nestlé Pakistan was playing its role in community engagement and enhancement through various programs for its focus areas.
“Nestlébelieves in the philosophy of creating shared value (CSV). Our purpose is to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future and hence CSV is embedded in our business model, where direct engagement and support to communities is extended across the value chain,” he said.
Nestlé Pakistan’s initiative, the Nestlé-BISP Rural Women Sales Program, under Ehsaas,was also presented as a case study at the moot, highlighting how the project had helped graduate BISP beneficiaries outofpoverty in line with UN SDGs3, 5 and 17 – Good Health & Wellbeing, Gender Equality, and Partnerships for the Goals, respectively. It has so far over 900 active rural women sales agents.
As part of ‘Caring for Water – Pakistan’ initiative, Nestlé Pakistan with its collective action approach partnered with organisations such as LUMS, UVAS, WWF Pakistan, SDPI and PARC to address the shared water challenges, consistent with SDGs 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation, and 17 – Partnership for the Goals.
Meanwhile, the Nestlé for Healthier Kids program (N4HK), a global initiative that empowers parents, caregivers and educators to foster healthier eating, drinking and lifestyle habits among school age children, has reached out to more than 220,000 kids and trained over 1100 teachers on nutrition in 280 schools, in collaboration with 10 educational partners.
Congratulating Nestlé Pakistan on winning the award, Fasihul Karim Siddiqi, Executive Director Global Compact Network Pakistan, said, “We recognise Nestlé’s commitment and efforts which are completely aligned with UNGC principles of sustainable business practices in Pakistan.I believe that such practices should be promoted at greater levels and used as an example for other businesses to follow.” Living the Global Compact Best Practices Sustainability Awards is organised by Global Compact Network Pakistan every year. The network is currently fortified with around 90 organisations in Pakistan.
