Islamabad, 24 January 2023 — The Ministry of Human Rights and UNDP Pakistan held a seminar and panel discussion to identify key priorities, drivers, and recommendations for implementing Pakistan’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Business & Human Rights (BHR) in 2023.

At the dialogue, participants discussed best practices for the inclusion of rights-holders, including workers, local communities, and human rights and environmental defenders, in implementing the NAP. Further, the responsibility of the private sector to practice corporate Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) as a means to identify and address human rights challenges across value chains in Pakistan was also emphasised.

Opening the launch, the Director General of International Cooperation Ministry of Human Rights Mr. Muhammad Arshad welcomed stakeholders to the event, which included representatives of the Federal and Provincial governments, the private sector, and civil society. Referring to the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration for implementation of the NAP, Mr. Arshad highlighted, “We are pleased to share that both the formulation and now drafting of the NAP have been an inclusive process. Moreover, for effective implementation, we also need multi-stakeholder collaboration.”

Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative Mr. Rana Kaiser Ishaque reflected on the strength of the framework provided by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and remarked, “Through the implementation of the NAP, we can contribute towards achieving several objectives, including fulfilment of human rights, Sustainable Development Goals, and strengthening the competitiveness of Pakistan’s businesses in the global value chains.”