OICCI members contribute Rs2.8bn in Pakistan

The members of Overseas Investors Chambers of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) have contributed Rs 2.8 billion and over 450,000 man-hours in charitable causes and social investments in Pakistan in the year 2015/16.
Chief Executive and Secretary General of OICCI, M Abdul Aleem told that foreign firms have been generously participating in various social services focusing on narrowing the gap in the provision of essential services, like healthcare, education and skills development for the underprivileged sections of the populations.
Sharing the details of geographical spread of the social contribution Abdul Aleem informed that Sindh province was the biggest beneficiary with 29 percent share, Punjab received 26 percent share, KPK 15 percent, Baluchistan 12 percent share while Gilgit Baltistan and AJK received 9 percent share each.
OICCI has also published a Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2015-16 themed as "Combining the Power of Social Responsibility".
The 89-page report reveals that the numbers mentioned above relate only to 70-member companies of OICCI out of total 196 members who shared their social investments and charitable donations in, what M Abdul Aleem said, were contributions to the country's societal needs in critical areas.
The social sectors that attracted the financial and non-financial contributions from the foreign investors primarily include education, health, community development, environment, disaster relief and infrastructure development.
According to the OICCI report, 93 percent of the OICCI members' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities remained focused on education, 81 percent on health, 69 percent community development, 46 percent on environment, 27 percent on infrastructure development, 29 percent on disaster relief and 41 percent on other sectors.
OICCI members, representing leading foreign investors, are fully cognisant of their responsibilities as good corporate citizens and are also actively engaged in contributing to the social upliftment of backward segments of society. Besides material philanthropic contributions, our members also devote substantial human resources to CSR activities within their areas of operations.
The OICCI members consider CSR as a long-term investment in the people of Pakistan while simultaneously maintaining high ethical standards and transparency.
In collaboration with their 165 local social sector partners, the foreign investors in Pakistan positively impacted the lives of about 20.4 million Pakistanis from across Pakistan. Of primary concern to them were the health and education sectors wherein Aleem said the OICCI members took initiatives like making donations to reputed hospitals, medical camps, blood donation camps, and health awareness campaigns. OICCI members have also made significant funding for setting up schools and contribution towards vocational training and programs for skill development.
Referring to the 450,000 man-hours invested by the 70 participating companies in CSR related activities, Aleem said, "CSR is no longer restricted to the amount of money a company contributes to charity, neither is it restricted to the concept of simple philanthropy."
"We are confident that foreign investors who are members of OICCI will continue to invest, as responsible corporate citizens, towards the economic community development, thereby creating opportunities for employee development and promoting well-being and shared values in the country," he said.