News Update Times

Lucky Cement Awarded Corporate Social Responsibility Award for Business Transformation

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  Lucky Cement Limited won the Int’l Corporate Social Responsibility Award in the category of “Business Transformation” organized by The Professionals Network (TPN), at the 10th CSR Summit & Awards held at a local hotel in Karachi.

Lucky Cement Limited received this prestigious award in recognition of its efforts towards a sustainable business transformation through the successful integration of a customized logistics fleet operations.

The logistics’ system does not only strengthen the overall capabilities of the Company but is also a source of mass employment in the Country as it offers several direct and indirect employment opportunities.

The Company also ensures to cover all environmental aspects of its logistics’ operation through regular vehicle emission testing of its dedicated fleet.

Speaking of the occasion, Amin Ganny, Chief Operating Officer, Lucky Cement Limited said, “Lucky Cement being one of the leading cement manufacturers in Pakistan has both the responsibility and opportunity to make contributions in bringing sustainability to the construction industry. We have broadly put resources into executing programs that guarantee sustainability at all levels of our business activities.”

He further added that “The management strongly believes in following environmentally sustainable practices and extensively invests in initiatives that reduce energy consumption for effective use of resources and address issues of environmental degradation.”

Facilitating downstream along with the value chain, Lucky Cement has its own logistics fleet operations, customized for inbound and outbound goods as well as customer requirements and locations. This diversified fleet of prime movers, bulkers, and trailers is managed expertly by a team of highly qualified professionals to ensure the highest levels of service and efficiency from plant to premises.

The Company also emphasizes on lead-time and road safety, therefore all vehicles are monitored using GPS tracking systems along with training at all levels of the team to support the pursuit of continuous improvement.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Project PAVE, a shared value initiative of Engro Fertilizers and Engro Foundation, has been declared a winner of the “Rushlight Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry & Biodiversity Award” held in UK.

This is the third global recognition for Project PAVE (Partnerships and Value Expansion for Inclusive Seed Systems in Pakistan) as it has already been named a recipient of the “Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2019” in Taipei, Taiwan, and “Best Shared Value Project Through Cross-Sector Partnership” in Melbourne, Australia, at the 2019 Asia Pacific Shared Value Awards.

Project PAVE has been devised to leverage Engro Fertilizer’s experience by enhancing the seeds value chain to make it more equitable, sustainable and beneficial for all, including smallholders, business growth, seed sector and food security. Under the project, Engro works with smallholder farmers, including female farmers, to introduce and train them on seed growing techniques and enabling them become part of the seed supply chain. This initiative has also promoted women’s economic empowerment through alternative livelihoods and enhanced women’s voice in decision making and community leadership through the introduction of Women’s Seed Multiplication groups.

As global partners, the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Canada, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia (DFAT), are providing their expertise for implementation of Project PAVE.

According to Nadir Qureshi, CEO of Engro Fertilizers, “This global award is another testament to the outstanding dedication and collective efforts of Engro and its partners for Project PAVE. This project reflects the commitment of Engro Fertilizers to be a purpose-driven organization that aims to do well while doing good.”

Congratulating the Engro team on winning the accolade, the Rushlight organizers said that, “You are the first entry we have ever had from Pakistan and so to win is a very impressive achievement.  You were in a category that was the second most popular, so you had some real competition, and you beat an entry that went on to win the overall award.”

Now in its 14th year, the Rushlight Awards are the only set of awards designed specifically to support and promote all the latest clean technologies, innovations, initiatives and deployment projects for businesses and other organizations throughout UK and internationally. This year nominations were received from several countries, including UK, US, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, India and Taiwan.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) TPL Trakker, Pakistan’s leading IoT Company providing Telematics and Location Based Services and Solutions, has partnered with B4U Cabs, a new entrant in the ride-hailing services market based in Lahore.

Following the partnership, TPL Trakker’s Location Based Service (LBS) APIs, will power B4U Cab’s Ride Hailing Mobile Apps for consumers and cab drivers. The Lahore-based startup aims to expand operations throughout the country, and offers competitive rates for fares even during peak hours. With the largest location based dataset covering 400 cities, 5 million geocoded addresses and 600,000 km of road network, TPL Trakker is ideally positioned to meet the needs of B4U Cabs, supporting their continued growth and success in the On-Demand Services Industry.

A growing number of startups and established businesses in Pakistan are testing and choosing TPL Trakker’s LBS APIs to make their assets location-enabled. This past year alone, TPL Trakker has grown its client base significantly by partnering with several brands in the Telecommunications, On-Demand Delivery and Emergency Services sector.  

To mark the occasion, a signing ceremony was held at B4U Cabs’ Head Office located in Lahore. Present at the ceremony, from TPL Trakker, were Amina Ahmed, Head of Enterprise Sales and Zohaib Saeed, Manager, Business Development & Key Accounts. Nauman Zafar, Manager, Business Process and Backend Operations, Usman Kifayat, Senior Manager, Care and Mohiuddin, Marketing Manager, represented B4U Cabs.

Speaking on the collaboration, Amina Ahmed, Head of Enterprise Sales, TPL Trakker said, “We take deep pride in partnering with yet another startup; a Company that truly believes in the premise of ‘the customer always comes first.’  I am confident that our expertise in location data will help B4U Cabs achieve their business objectives.”

Umair Butt, COO, B4U Cabs said, “TPL Trakker & B4U Cabs’ coming together marks the inception of a new era in ride hailing services. We will progress by staying and working together and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with TPL Trakker.”

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Jazz, Pakistan’s number one 4G operator, and the largest internet and broadband service provider has inaugurated its state-of-the-art office, the ‘Jazz Digital House,’ in Quetta. In continuation of Jazz’s commitment to employee wellbeing, this office aims to provide a comfortable and inspiring environment, enabling employees to be more productive and creative. From breakout rooms, project rooms’ to sit-stands, and ergonomic seating, the office not only offers individuals ample space but also encourages teamwork with the place fully-equipped to cater to virtual team collaborations, a critical part of the digital workplace strategy. Moreover, this office seeks to expand Jazz’s digital footprint in Balochistan, especially in rural areas.

Speaking on this occasion, Aamir Ibrahim, Jazz CEO, said, “This Digital House is a testament to Jazz’s values and caters to the rapidly changing workplace dynamics. In line with our commitment to provide a healthy working environment, we hope that this next-generation workplace promotes continuous learning, nurtures wellness, and fosters innovation.” Jazz is recognized as an employer of choice with a conducive work culture encouraging a greater work-life balance. At Jazz, wellness is central to ensuring productive and energized employees who are committed to accelerating the company’s progress towards a ‘Digital Pakistan.’

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Agha Steel Industries, a leading Steel rebar manufacturing company has signed a contract with Renewable Power Pvt. Ltd. for installing a 2.25 Megawatt solar power project at its production facility located at Port Qasim Karachi. Meezan Bank Ltd is the banking partner for this transaction. This would be among one of the largest solar power projects installed by a steel manufacturer in Pakistan.

According to a statement this project will initiate a Green Steel Revolution at Agha Steel Industries by helping in sustainability of its energy mix and at the same time reducing the burden on national grid. The 2.25 Megawatt solar power project would also reduce the carbon emission by 46,000 tons in a lifespan of 20 years.

This solar power plant, being installed on the self-consumption basis, will produce around 3.3 million units of clean and renewable electricity every year, which will result in a significant drop in the carbon footprint of Agha Steel Industries. The company is currently undergoing an expansion to increase its rebar capacity to 650,000 from current 250,000 tons per. 

Electricity is a major component in steel production and Agha Steel has decided to bring down its production cost through solar power production. It is estimated that once Agha Steel installs MiDa technology in September 2021, it would reduce its electricity consumption by a hefty 20% and its production losses in terms of raw material would be reduced by 8%.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Hussain Agha CEO Agha Steel said “In line with our Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), it is our vision to become Pakistan’s first green steel manufacturer with zero reliance on fossil fuels by 2025.  As a micro mill utilizing scrap-based Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology, we are helping to preserve our natural resources. By using recycled scrap for our raw material, we reduce the need for natural resources. Our CO2 Scope 1 green-house gas emissions and energy consumption intensities are approximately 7 times less than the global steel making average.”

Mr. Ariful Islam, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Meezan Bank Ltd also appreciated this green initiative. “We are proud to partner with Renewable Power for this project which will initiate a Green Steel Revolution at Agha Steel and create a long term value for the company, society & environment,” noted Hussain Agha. This solar power project also supports Pakistan’s goal to become a low-carbon, renewable energy-reliant economy by 2030 and contributes to its national target in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Federal Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources, Mian Asad Hayaud Din assured the court, that the ministry would fully support and cooperate in the FIA audit as per the directives of the Peshawar High Court with cooperation of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), he was appearing in the court as per the directive, in relation to a petition Mujahid Islam vs. MOL Pakistan and Others.

During the proceedings, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also assured the honorable court of its cooperation with the Ministry and other stakeholders in the case. After assurance of the Secretary Petroleum and FIA, the honorable court directed the FIA to submit their report in three months. Record was placed before the court, showing that the respondent MOL Pakistan has fulfilled all its social welfare obligations. The case has been investigated multiple times and MOL Pakistan is in fact the target of the said theft, and the company has been cleared by the Public Accounts Committee and a few investigations in the past.

Addressing all points raised by the petitioners, MOL Pakistan has already submitted its response to the petition, and the company’s position on this matter is already on record. The company has presented the true state of facts to the honorable court, through its legal team. As the matter is currently subjudice, the honorable court in its right wisdom will give its verdict after submission of the audit report.

In the meantime, MOL Pakistan reiterates the fact that it is a responsible corporate citizen of the country and operates in strict compliance of local laws and its agreements with the Government of Pakistan. While MOL Pakistan is proud of its exponential contributions to Pakistan’s energy sector and is highly committed to continuing to invest in Pakistan’s oil and gas industry, the company also takes its corporate social responsibility very seriously.

Since 1999 the TAL JV has paid back to the government and the communities a sum of Rupees 91 billion in the shape of royalties (Rs 88 billion), production bonuses (Rs 960 million), and through other activities, such as infrastructure development and social welfare. Billions of Rupees are paid in taxes per year by the JV partners, besides these obligations.

Going above and beyond the call of duty, MOL Pakistan has always prioritized social welfare initiatives,  focusing on improving education; health; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), along with the development of infrastructure, such as providing accessible paved streets and roads with drainage capabilities. Keeping in-line with these community development priorities, MOL Pakistan has undertaken numerous social welfare initiatives that improve the standard of living of local communities in its areas of operation.

Last week, together with its Joint Venture Partners of the TAL Block, MOL Pakistan agreed to support the repair and rehabilitation of the 40km-long Gurguri / Banda Daud Shah Road, connecting the districts of Karak and Hangu, at the cost of Rs. 400 million. Likewise, with the support of MOL Pakistan, at the cost of Rs. 700 million, the new 373m long Khushal Garh Bridge was constructed in 2014, connecting the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, with over 5,000 vehicles using the bridge daily. Further, in 2010, in partnership with The Citizens Foundation (TCF), MOL Pakistan supported the construction of a primary school in the village of Gurguri, district Karak, with over 350 students today, half of whom are girls.