Karachi: Karachi Electric Supply Company’s CEO Tabish Gauhar has said that philanthropy was one of the basic factors behind sustainability of Pakistan’s society.
“NGOs, being major device 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, and to maintain a financial discipline in order to sustain for longer periods than they usually did. 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,” he said speaking at second session of Thought Leadership Forum entitled: “Social Entrepreneurship and its Impact on Sustainable Development.”
He said that KESC had founded Thought Leadership Forum to provide a joint platform for the corporate sector and the non-profit institutions to work together and learn from each-others’ experience.
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 which was the major source of funding to non-profit social entrepreneurs, added contribution from the community was needed to enhance the social sector activities.
“The Emerging Model of Social Enterprise in Pakistan” was the topic of the paper read by Mushtaq A. Chhapra, Founder and Director, The Citizens Forum. 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 Pakistani population had the only option of going to substandard and insufficient government hospitals. A very small minority could afford to buy quality healthcare at private hospitals. In such a situation, he said, there was 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.