Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Romina Khurshid Alam, praised the International Labour and Environmental Standards (ILES) project for its transformative impact on promoting sustainable practices among Pakistani industries.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the ILES project on Thursday, Ms Romina underscored its role in equipping enterprises with environmental management practices to reduce resource use and minimize pollution.
She said: “The ILES project, initiated in 2016 in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the European Union, was aimed to foster sustainable growth in Pakistan. It focused on key export sectors like textiles, garments, and leather, enhancing competitiveness and ensuring compliance with the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).”
Ms Romina noted the project’s support in labor enhancement and its role in addressing climate change and sustainability. The initiative improved occupational safety and health in small factories and boosted productivity in larger ones, contributing to policy reforms aligning Pakistan’s frameworks with global standards.
The government remains committed to partnerships like ILES, essential for achieving sustainable development goals. Ms. Romina emphasized that the project’s conclusion should serve as a foundation for broader national strategies, ensuring Pakistan meets international obligations and thrives in sustainable industrial practices.
Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, Dr Arshad Mahmood, highlighted the project’s achievements in fostering a culture of safeguarding labor rights at governmental levels. WWF-Pakistan’s Director General, Hammad Naqi Khan, discussed promoting organic cotton cultivation, engaging over 13,000 farmers across 80,000 acres, with 21,833 acres certified organic.