Pakistan – Supply chains

CHAPTER 3: National Action Plan Priority Areas and Proposed Actions

3.2. NAP Priority Areas

3.2.2 | Anti-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity, and Inclusion

Proposed Actions

  • Federal and provincial (page 22)

‘21. Provide capacity-building support in the value chain for women and vulnerable or marginalised groups, and build awareness about their rights under the law as well as available remedial mechanisms in case of violations of their human rights in business activity or the workplace.

Performance indicator(s): (i) Number of capacity-building and awareness-raising activities

UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

Relevant SDG(s): Goal 1 – No Poverty; 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 Annex 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 21 designating the Non-Formal Education and Human Rights Department, the Vocational Training Authorities, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Small Industries, the Women Development Department as Leading Entities, and designating the Provincial Technical and Vocational Training Authorities, the Provincial Social Welfare Departments, the Provincial Educational Departments, the Provincial Population Welfare Department, NGOs, CSOs and the Business Community as Additional Entities (page 51).

3.2.3. Human Rights Due Diligence (page 25)

‘Human rights due diligence is an increasingly prominent area of discussion around the globe, not as a tick-box compliance exercise, but as a vital means to obtaining better human rights outcomes. It is anticipated that export markets will be negatively affected in countries which fall behind in addressing human rights violations across their supply chains. A pragmatic mix of human rights due diligence mechanisms, including the adoption of voluntary and common standards by businesses, as well as the development of a legislative and regulatory framework, will support the strengthening of a sustainable and resilient Pakistani economy.’

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 Annex 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 34 designating the Ministry of Commerce as Leading Entity (page 56).

 

CHAPTER 4: State Expectations of Business Enterprises (page 38)

‘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:

1.Evaluate their compliance with all applicable domestic laws relevant to the respect for human rights in business activity, and provision of corrective or remedial action in response to potential, ongoing, or past human rights violations resulting directly from their activity or through their business relationships across their value chains.

2. Ensure the elimination of child labour, forced or bonded labour, and all forms of modern slavery from their business operations and supply chains. This may be expedited through the utilisation of effective and thorough human rights due diligence.

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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. […]

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11. Make available remediation for human rights abuses in the supply and value chains of a business even when a business is not directly involved in a human rights violation but has the potential to adversely affect human rights.

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13. In addition to the UNGPs, be cognisant of and guided by international guidelines and principles such as […] the 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, Actions for Companies to Identify and Address the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Mineral Supply Chains, IFC Performance Standards, and other guidelines and standards applicable to their respective sectors.’