The fifth ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards ceremony was held on 23 April at the Marriott Hotel Islamabad. The Chief Guest was Mr. Malik Amin Aslam Khan, Minister of State for Environment who gave away trophies to the winners. The winners were Engro Chemical Pakistan Limited. (Best Sustainability Report-Local listed Company), Pakistan Refinery Limited (Best Environmental Report – Lost listed Company), Engro Asahi Polymer and Chemicals Ltd.(Best Environmental Report – Unlisted Company), BP Pakistan Exploration & Production Inc. (Best Environmental Report – Multinational company) and Pakistan Tobacco Company Ltd. (Best Sustainability Report – Multinational company). 
 
ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards (PERA) were launched in 2001. The main aim of these awards is to recognise and reward those organisations which report and disclose environmental, social or full sustainability performance; to encourage best practices in environmental, social and sustainability reporting and to raise awareness of corporate social responsibility issues and performance.  These awards have now reached their sixth year. In recent years the awards have demonstrated their growing influence as the scheme is endorsed by the Ministry of Environment and IUCN.

Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Mr. Malik Amin Aslam Khan commended the initiative undertaken by ACCA Pakistan and WWF Pakistan to help raise awareness of reporting environmental, social and sustainability information in the annual reports. He was of the opinion that a strong business case exists for environmental, social and sustainability reporting as more stakeholders’ awareness has resulted in suggestions for more transparent reporting. He stated, “All too often environmental and social innovations are undermined by claims that they will impose unnecessary costs and act as a barrier to trade and competitiveness.  On the contrary, improvements in environmental and sustainability reporting can often open the door to increased trade and improved supply chain access, as organisations gain a reputation for ethical behaviour and for good corporate governance.” He urged more companies to participate in the ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards stating, “We would like more companies to participate in ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards so that we reach the state where sustainability and environmental reporting becomes the norm.”

Mr. Arif Masud Mirza, Head of ACCA Pakistan in his opening remarks stated that even though the quality and quantity of environmental, social and sustainability reports yet there is a need for inclusion of more information about stakeholders’ engagement process and environmental/ social audit.  “A triple bottom line approach to modern businesses was a step towards achieving business nirvana. The fundamental drivers are stakeholder engagement, transparency, accountability and probity.”
    
Dr. Parvez Hassan, Partner Hassan and Hassan Advocates presented the salient features of the Judges Report. Dr. Afra Sajjad, Head of Policy Development of ACCA Pakistan outlined the administrative features of the Judges Report.

Mr. Ali Hassan Habib, Director General, WWF Pakistan in his closing remarks stated that the ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards provide a framework to companies to report their environmental, social and sustainability performance. He stated, “Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards (PERA) journey has come along six years now and in this time frame the scheme has not only increased environmental awareness in the corporate sector but has also improved environmental and social performance of companies and industrial concerns enhancing their corporate reputation as green citizens.”

The ceremony concluded with Mr. Malik Amin Aslam Khan presenting trophies to the winners. A total of 25 entries were received for ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards 2005-2006. 

About ACCA

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the largest and fastest-growing global professional accountancy body with 296,000 students and 115,000 members in 170 countries.

We aim to offer the first choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. ACCA works to achieve and promote the highest professional, ethical and governance standards and advance the public interest.
www.accaglobal.com

About WWF

For more than four decades in over 90 countries around the world, WWF has worked for the conservation of nature and ecological processes, through the concept of sustainable development.
www.wwfpak.org

Samman Ehsan
WWF – Pakistan
Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
Tel: +92 42 5862360, 5869429,
Fax: 042 5862358,
e-mail: publications@wwf.org.pk

Dr. Afra Sajjad, Head of Policy Development ACCA Pakistan
Mobile: 0300-8505415