Pakistan – Human rights impact assessments
CHAPTER 3: National Action Plan Priority Areas and Proposed Actions
3.2. NAP Priority Areas
3.2.3 | Human Rights Due Diligence
Proposed Actions
- Federal (page 26)
‘34. Conduct a study on the potential impact of the future enactment of mandatory human rights due diligence legislation by major trading partners, such as the European Union, on Pakistan’s competitiveness in export markets, inflows of foreign direct investment, Pakistan’s role in global supply chains, and schemes such as GSP+.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Assessment report
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 2, 3, 8, 9
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production; Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 34 designating the Ministry of Commerce as Leading Entity (page 56).
3.2.4 | Labour Standards and the Informal Economy
Proposed Actions
- Federal and Provincial (pages 29-30)
‘42. Conduct a review process of labour laws, standards, and policies to gauge the differentiated impacts or deficits of these laws, standards and policies on women and vulnerable or marginalised workers, including in the informal economy, and identify and enact as required new or amended laws, standards, or policies.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Review process reports; (ii) Proposal of Amendments; (iii) Laws, standards, or policies enacted
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 3, 8
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 5 – Gender Quality; Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 42 designating the Provincial Governments and the Provincial Labour & Human Resources Departments as Leading Entities, and designating the Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women; Provincial Law Departments; Provincial Human Rights Departments; Provincial Women Development Departments; Provincial Departments of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities; Provincial Social Welfare Departments; Provincial Labour Departments; Provincial Industries Departments; Provincial Commerce Departments; Provincial Rural Development Departments; Provincial Local Government Departments as Additional Entities (page 61).
- Provincial (page 31)
‘50. Conduct an Impact Assessment of COVID-19 on the tourism industry (including a gender impact assessment), with a focus on adverse human rights impacts.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Impact Assessment Reports
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 3, 8
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 1 – Zero Poverty; Goal 5 – Gender Quality; Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities; Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities; Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 50 designating the Provincial Governments and the Tourism Departments as Leading Entities, and designating the Provincial Finance Departments; Provincial Planning and Development Departments; Provincial Excise and Taxation Departments; Provincial Social Welfare and Human Rights Departments; Provincial Industries, Mines & Minerals Departments; Provincial Labour Departments; Provincial Commerce Departments as Additional Entities (page 65).
CHAPTER 4: State Expectations of Business Enterprises (pages 38-39)
‘[…]6. Establish adequate human rights due diligence mechanisms to identify, prevent, and remedy human rights impacts. Human rights due diligence should consider both internal risks that stem directly from business operations as well as external risks, which relate to all other entities that the business work with across their operations or are linked with through their value chains. Human rights due diligence should be carried out before commercial operations and business activities, proportionate to the size and scope of the enterprise and the scale and complexity of its potential human rights impacts, and on a continuous basis to ensure that integrated findings from impact assessments shape future business decisions […].
7. Identify and manage the human rights impacts of their operations during COVID-19 by using tools such as the Human Rights Due Diligence and COVID-19 Rapid Self-Assessment tool developed by UNDP within the BHR framework.’
ANNEX II: Actions Already Undertaken by Pakistan
A | General Measures Relevant to Business and Human Rights (page 73)
‘Protection from environmental degradation is also a priority for Pakistan. Under the State Bank Guidelines for Infrastructure Project Financing, companies must draft a description of environmental impact assessments and must report on health and safety issues to provide information as to the compliance of the project with relevant laws.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 also provides for environmental impact assessments and initial environmental examinations to ensure the protection of the environment in carrying out business activity.’
B | Measures Relevant to NAP Priority Areas
iii. Human Rights Due Diligence (page 80)
‘[…] The State Bank has developed guidelines which provide that as a pre-requisite companies must draft a description of environmental impact assessments and must report on health and safety issues to provide information as to the compliance of the project with relevant laws.
[…] A few multinational companies operating in Pakistan like Jazz, Telenor, and Coca Cola do have due diligence policies in place to address human rights risks through impact assessments.’