The UNGC is a strategic policy initiative for organisations that are committed to adjusting their operations and schemes with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. With over 10,000 corporate participants and other stakeholders from over 130 countries, it is the largest voluntary corporate responsibility first step in the world. The UNGC works toward the vision of a sustainable and comprehensive global economy which delivers lasting benefits to people, communities and markets.
LUMS houses the largest business school in Pakistan and is acknowledged globally for setting the highest standard of quality in higher education in various disciplines. It is also committed to following and promoting the ten universally accepted principles of the UNGC. Credit goes to the foresightedness of the former Vice Chancellor, Dr. Prof. Adil Najam, himself a global champion of these principles, for encouraging LUMS to embrace the Ten Principles of UNGC. This can prove to be a source of inspiration for other leading business schools in Pakistan, not only to pursue the principles of responsible management education, but also to play their role in shaping the future of responsible business in Pakistan.
International Alert recently started working on the role that economics and business can play in supporting peace in Pakistan and promoting the idea of conflict-sensitive business practices. The collaboration of the UNGC Pakistan Network and International Alert arises from the common objectives of both organisations for responsible business practices that serve as agents for peace in Pakistan.
International Alert’s local representative, Aurangzeb Haneef, suggests that LUMS’s membership of UNGC will contribute to the sustainability of the Plural Business Partnerships for Peace in Pakistan project. The commitment of a premier academic institution such as LUMS will also help strengthen serious engagement on conflict-sensitive, responsible, and sustainable business in the country, by enforcing UNGC principles internally and promoting these externally through its courses of study and training. International Alert hopes that in future, such an engagement could lead to a graduate or undergraduate course covering these urgent themes.
According to the Secretary General of the UNGC Pakistan Network, Mr. Fasihul Karim Siddiqi, LUMS joining the UNGC will prove to be a giant leap in Pakistan’s efforts to promote responsible business and will pave the way for more business schools to join hands in strengthening sustainable business leadership in Pakistan.
