Webinar: Promoting Effective Implementation and Reporting under Pakistan’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
Venue: Online
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026

Transparency International Pakistan, in collaboration with ESG Nexus organized a webinar, titled, “Promoting Effective Implementation and Reporting under Pakistan’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights”, on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The webinar aimed to raise awareness on Pakistan’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, address practical challenges in human rights due diligence and reporting, and promote dialogue among government, businesses, and civil society to promote responsible and transparent business practices. Experts from the Ministry of Human Rights, UNDP, ILO, Transparency International Pakistan, and ESG Nexus shared their insights at the webinar, while business leaders, representatives of public listed companies,  and civil society representatives attended the webinar.

The webinar was moderated by Ms. Noorulain Zafer, CMgr FCMI, ESG Nexus who welcomed the participants, outlined the objectives of the session, and set the context for discussions on Pakistan’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and related reporting practices.

Mr. Kashif Ali, Executive Director, Transparency International Pakistan highlighted that corporate transparency is essential for responsible business conduct and economic stability. He noted that corruption in the corporate sector can negatively affect investor confidence, regulatory compliance, and foreign investment. Referring to TI Pakistan’s Transparency in Corporate Reporting (TRAC) Assessment, which evaluated 69 publicly listed companies, he noted an overall transparency score of 7.23/10, indicating moderate transparency. He pointed out that anti-corruption disclosures were the weakest (47.28%), while gender and non-discrimination averaged 68.8% and procurement transparency 58.89%. He stressed that the assessment measures publicly available disclosures, encouraging companies to strengthen transparency, particularly in human rights due diligence, promotion equity policies, and reporting on government contracting processes.

Next speaker was Ms. Khoala Batool, Deputy Director (IC), Ministry of Human Rights. Ms. Khoala highlighted that Pakistan has been implementing the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights since 2020 and is now entering the final year of its first phase, with preparations underway for the next phase. She explained that the NAP focused primarily on strengthening implementation of existing laws rather than introducing immediate mandatory requirements, as gaps were identified mainly in enforcement, awareness, and research. She noted that while large companies, particularly those benefiting from the EU’s GSP Plus, are increasingly adopting human rights due diligence practices, small and medium enterprises face financial and capacity constraints. To address these challenges, the Ministry has supported legislative reforms on child labour and child protection, established provincial implementation committees following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, and developed a human rights due diligence framework and checklist for businesses and state entities. She emphasized that these steps aim to gradually integrate human rights due diligence into Pakistan’s regulatory framework through coordinated efforts with regulators, provinces, and partners such as the United Nations Development Programme.

Moving on, Ms. Rabia Razzaque, Senior Program Officer, ILO CO Islamabad, spoke about the importance of integrating labour rights and decent work principles into business practices and supply chain management. She emphasized the importance of embedding decent work principles into core business strategies rather than treating labour standards as a compliance requirement. She highlighted that responsible purchasing practices, fair wage structures, and improved working conditions are essential for sustainable supply chains. She also stressed the need for stronger social dialogue, worker representation, and investment in human capital, noting that workforce transition planning and green skills development are increasingly important as companies respond to climate and sustainability challenges.

The discussion continued with Ms. Fernanda Hopenhaym Cabrera, Member – UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, United Nations Special Procedures. She emphasized the importance of raising awareness and building capacities within businesses to implement human rights principles effectively. Highlighting the 15th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, she explained their three pillars: State Obligations, Business Responsibilities, and Access to Remedy. Ms. Fernanda stressed that businesses should integrate human rights policies into their operations as a first step, including conducting human rights due diligence to identify risks related to labor, discrimination, environment, and community impacts. She noted that prevention and mitigation measures not only protect people but also create value for businesses by reducing potential conflicts and legal risks.

She underscored that this is part of a broader international trend, referencing the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and recent European human rights due diligence directives, and highlighted that Pakistan has its own framework and checklist. She recommended that businesses begin the process of integrating human rights gradually, in a step-by-step manner, to benefit people, companies, and the country.

Moving on, Mr. Osman Masood, Director, ESG Nexus continued the discussion. He recommended that capacity building and awareness-raising should be the starting point for SMEs to implement human rights and labor due diligence. He emphasized the need to cascade National Action Plan provisions and HR due diligence requirements from larger corporations down to SMEs, highlighting that without strong implementation and enforcement mechanisms, compliance remains largely superficial. He outlined a four-stage approach: identifying policies and risks, tracking and publishing compliance data, gradually aligning with frameworks such as SCCP guidance and HR due diligence, and leveraging available resources like the ILO help desk. His key message was that effective implementation, not just awareness, is critical for ensuring that human rights and labor standards are respected across businesses in Pakistan.

The webinar reinforced the importance of capacity building, awareness-raising, and strong implementation mechanisms to ensure that human rights and labor standards are embedded in business practices across Pakistan. Senior representatives of companies who attended the webinar appreciated the practical insights and guidance shared by experts on how companies reporting on key areas in the National Action Plan can be improved.