Pakistan’s first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
Dr. Jassim Taqui
DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Human Rights, Dr. Shireen
Mazari said that “Safeguarding fundamental human rights is a firm priority for
the Government of Pakistan. NAP’s implementation will raise human rights
standards in business activity across the country.” She emphasized that
effective implementation of NAP will require the participation of a variety of
stakeholders across Pakistan.
Thanking the UNDP for its technical support throughout the NAP
development process, Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, Mr. Inamullah
Khan said during his opening remarks for the launch ceremony, that “Pakistan
can be proud to be the first country in South Asia with a NAP on Business and
Human Rights, developed through an inclusive multi-stakeholder consultative
process.”
During the launch, Chief Guest Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser to
Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce and Investment, shared that in
Pakistan’s growing economy, an increasing number of businesses are becoming
aware of their human rights responsibilities.
UNDP Pakistan’s Deputy Resident Representative a.i. Ms. Aliona
Niculita congratulated the Government of Pakistan on this major milestone for
the country, led by the Ministry of Human Rights. “The NAP makes several
pledges relevant to the protection and promotion of the rights of the most
vulnerable and marginalized workers, including those who are part of the large
informal economy in Pakistan,” said Ms. Aliona Niculita. UNDP is proud to have
supported the Ministry of Human Rights on this initiative since its inception
in 2018. The NAP was developed after conducting a national baseline assessment
and several rounds of multi-stakeholder consultations across Pakistan, in
collaboration with UNDP’s partner Research Society of International Law (RSIL).
The NAP is a policy document in which the Government of Pakistan
commits to the protection of human rights in all forms of business activity. It
is based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,
which are built around three pillars: (i) the duty of the state to protect
human rights; (ii) the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights;
and (iii) the need for effective access to remedy when human rights are violated
through business activity.
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