Pakistan – Guidance to business
CHAPTER 3: National Action Plan Priority Areas and Proposed Actions
3.1. General Proposed Actions
- Federal and Provincial (pages 16-17)
‘5. Issue and disseminate BHR guidelines for business enterprises in line with the NAP—its priority areas, proposed actions and State expectations of business enterprises—and with regards to non-financial reporting on corporate human rights policies, human rights due diligence, and remedial mechanisms.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Development of Guidelines; (ii) Number of businesses to which Guidelines are disseminated
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 2, 3
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 5 – Gender Equality; Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 5 designating the Ministry of Human Rights; Ministry of Industries & Production; Ministry of Commerce as Leading Entities, and designating the Ministry of Law & Justice; Ministry of Interior; Provincial Human Rights Departments; Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan; Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development; National Commission for Child Welfare and Development; National Commission on the Rights of the Child as Additional Entities (page 45).
- Federal and Provincial (page 17)
‘8. Incorporate mandatory principles of Business and Human Rights, including the NAP and the UNGPs, into technical and vocational training.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Number of TVET programs incorporating principles of BHR, NAP, and UNGPs
UN Guiding Principle(s): 2, 3, 8
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 4 – Quality Education; Goal 5 – Gender Equality; Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 8 designating the Provincial Education Departments; Provincial Human Rights Departments; Provincial Technical and Vocational Training Authorities as Leading Entities, and designating the Ministry of Social Welfare and Small Industries; Business Community; CSOs and NGOs as Additional Entities (page 46).
3.2.1 | Financial Transparency, Corruption and Human Rights Standards in Public Procurement Contracts
Proposed Actions
- Federal (page 19)
‘11. Develop a model Code of Conduct, making explicit the relationship between business and human rights, for businesses that are State owned, controlled or which work with the State.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Development of a Code of Conduct; (ii) Number of businesses to which the Code of Conduct is disseminated; (iii) Number of businesses that formally announce the adoption of Code of Conduct
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’
3.2. NAP Priority Areas
3.2.2 | Anti-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity, and Inclusion
Proposed Actions
- Provincial (pages 23-24)
‘27. Build, or further strengthen existing, partnerships with and facilitate businesses to increase disability inclusion in business activity and at the workplace.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Number of partnerships and activities with businesses on disability inclusion
UN Guiding Principle(s): 2, 3, 8, 11, 12
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 27 designating the Provincial Special Education Departments, the Provincial Social Welfare Departments, the Provincial Bait-ul-Maal Departments and Bodies for Persons with Disabilities as Leading Entities, and designating the Provincial Human Rights Departments, the Provincial Education Departments, the Provincial Labour Departments, the Provincial Law Departments, the Provincial Management and Professional Development Departments, the Provincial Planning and Development Department and the Provincial Health Departments as Additional Entities (page 54).
‘29. Establish Provincial Entrepreneurial Advisory Cells for and led by women and vulnerable or marginalised groups.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Number of cells established
UN Guiding Principle(s): 2, 3, 8, 11, 12
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 5 – Gender Equality; Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 29 designating the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authorities and the Provincial Chambers of Commerce & Industry as Leading Entities (page 54).
3.2.3 | Human Rights Due Diligence
Proposed Actions
- Federal and Provincial (page 27)
‘36. Establish voluntary and common standards for conducting and reporting human rights due diligence in business activity, applicable to both the direct operations and across the value chains of public and private enterprises.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Development and dissemination of voluntary standards in line with international best practices
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 15, 17, 23
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 5 – Gender Equality; Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities; Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’
CHAPTER 4: State Expectations of Business Enterprises (pages 40-41)
‘To facilitate and guide business enterprises in ensuring compliance with and supporting the effective implementation of the NAP priority areas and the UNGPs, the State of Pakistan expects business enterprises to:
[…]13. In addition to the UNGPs, be cognisant of and guided by international guidelines and principles such as the Gender Dimensions of the UNGPs, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, Women’s Empowerment Principles, OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains, OECD Due Diligence Guidelines for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector, OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement in the Extractive Sector, OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, OECD Practical Actions for Companies to Identify and Address the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Mineral Supply Chains23, IFC Performance Standards, and other guidelines and standards applicable to their respective sectors.
14. Abide by relevant international standards under the International Organisation for Standardization, particularly ISO 26000 – Social Responsibility, and ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety.
15. Businesses are also encouraged to participate in initiatives such as the UN Global Compact, Fair Labor Association, Global Network Initiative, Ethical Trading Initiative, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and similar networks, which will allow them to better understand and implement international human rights standards within the business context.
16. Utilise the available guidelines, resources, and toolkits on how to ensure respect for human rights in business activity provided by organisations such as the Business and Human Resource Centre, Danish Institute of Human Rights, Shift, and several others.’