AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Karachi, December 05, 2012 (PPI-OT): Karachi Electric Supply Company, to promote social entrepreneurship as a means to sustainable development, held the second session of the Thought Leadership Forum titled: “Social Entrepreneurship and its Impact on Sustainable Development.”
KESC’s CEO Mr. Tabish Gauhar, in his welcome address, said that “KESC had founded the Thought Leadership Forum to provide a platform for bringing together progressive minds on various micro and macro developmental issues.” Elaborating, he said that “philanthropy was one of the basic factors behind sustainability of Pakistan’s society.
NGOs, being a major vehicle to distribute the social philanthropic wealth, needed to learn from corporate experience of improving efficiency and productivity by placing the right persons at the right places. Similarly, the corporate sector needed to realize the importance of contributing to the society as a major sustainability factor, and to learn from non-profit organizations as to how to share their blessings with the deserving people in the best possible manner.”
Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, CEO of Indus Hospital, while speaking on the topic “Promoting a Culture of Social Collaborations for Sustainable Development” emphasized upon collaboration among Government, corporate sector and non-profit organizations to achieve the target of collective sustainable development.
He said that, “besides Zakat and financial contributions which are the major sources of funding for non-profit social organizations, community support and personal participation of skilled individuals was also needed to enhance the social sector activities.”
“The Emerging Model of Social Enterprise in Pakistan” was the covered by Mr Mushtaq A. Chapra, Founder and Director, The Citizens Foundation. He said that “collaboration among all stakeholders and social entrepreneurs was the key factor towards real sustainability of Pakistani society.” He appreciated KESC’s efforts to promote social welfare sector that could prove a role model for other corporate sector entities.
Dr. Adib Rizvi, Founder and Director, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), in his key note address on the main theme, said “that more than 80 per cent of our population has access to substandard and insufficient healthcare services.
A very small minority could afford to buy quality healthcare at private hospitals. In such a situation, there is a great need to expand the funding and scope of NGO-based hospitals which offered quality healthcare at bare cost. This could only happen through active collaboration between philanthropic corporate sector and social welfare institutions.”
Ms. Zehra Mehdi Aneek, General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, KESC, in her note of thanks said that “The past two decades have seen that the balance of the Pakistan’s social fabric have been primarily maintained by many welfare organizations creating social value through the provision of world class health care, to the provision of daily nutrition.
The objective of this forum is to bring together legendary ‘Social Entrepreneurs’ and bring to light the present and future role of the social enterprise in the economic as well as social progress of the country.”
For more information, contact:
Adil Murtaza
Assistant Manager, Media and PR
Karachi Electric Supply Company Limited (KESC)
2nd Floor, State Life Building No 11,
Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar,
Karachi
Tel: +9221 9920 7163
Cell: +92346 822 3641
Email: adil.murtaza@kesc.com.pk