FPCCI and UNDP Launch Business and Human Rights Desk in Karachi

Karachi: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has inaugurated a Business and Human Rights (BHR) Desk at its head office in Karachi. This initiative aims to integrate human rights into Pakistan’s business practices, aligning with the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of FPCCI, highlighted that the BHR Desk will serve as a hub for awareness, capacity-building, and policy advocacy on human rights issues related to business. It is designed to support FPCCI’s network of 296 trade bodies in addressing adverse human rights impacts in supply chains.

The desk will focus on labor rights, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and ethical sourcing, promoting a balance between profitability and social responsibility. Qurrat Ul Ain, Vice President of FPCCI, has been appointed as Chairperson of the FPCCI-UNDP BHR Council.

Qurrat Ul Ain emphasized the desk’s role in promoting ethical business practices and fostering inclusive growth. She noted that the initiative would help safeguard vulnerable communities while offering new opportunities for innovation and resilience in the economy.

Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President of FPCCI, stressed the importance of the desk in meeting international Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, enhancing export competitiveness, and attracting sustainable foreign investment.

The desk will collaborate with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Human Rights and international organizations, to host workshops and develop tools for implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Abdul Mohamin Khan, VP and Regional Chairman Sindh, emphasized inclusivity, particularly for women and marginalized groups, as a core aspect of the initiative.

Other speakers at the launch included Aman Paracha, VP FPCCI; Sheikh Hammad Amjad, a UNDP Consultant; and Amar Hassan, a UNDP Rights-Based Development Expert, who discussed the objectives of the BHR Desk.