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Islamabad: Pakistan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are seeing a significant transformation in sustainable practices, thanks to the International Labour and Environmental Standards (ILES) project. Romina Khurshid Alam, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, praised the initiative’s impact at its closing ceremony, emphasizing the project’s success in reducing pollution and conserving resources.
According to a statement by Press Information Department, the ILES project has been instrumental in equipping enterprises with smart environmental management practices since its launch in 2016. A collaboration among the International Labour Organization (ILO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the European Union, the project focused on enhancing key export sectors like textiles, garments, and leather, ensuring their compliance with international standards and maintaining competitiveness under the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).
Ms. Alam noted the project’s success in supporting labor rights and improving industrial efficiency, crucial in addressing climate change and global environmental sustainability. The initiative has been pivotal in policy reforms, aligning Pakistan’s frameworks with global standards and bolstering the competitiveness of its industries on the international stage.
Ms. Alam stressed the importance of continuing the partnerships fostered by the ILES project to build on its foundation. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth, ensuring that Pakistan meets international obligations and leads in sustainable industrial practices.
Dr. Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, highlighted the project’s achievements in safeguarding labor rights, while Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, shared efforts in promoting organic cotton cultivation to reduce environmental impacts. Through the engagement of over 13,000 farmers, WWF-Pakistan has certified 21,833 acres as organic, showcasing the project’s broader impact on sustainable development.
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