BR: There are skeptics who question whether the corporate sector which is primarily driven towards making profits can totally justify indulging in CSR activities. What is your standpoint on this view?
Shahbaz Islam: I don't really agree with this statement. I totally believe and as we at SSGC have demonstrated, profit taking and responsible corporate citizenship need not be mutually exclusive. As a premier public sector utility, SSGC is responsible for providing uninterrupted gas supply to its customers across Sindh and Balochistan and that too in an ethical and responsible manner.
Being a responsible entity, SSGC is obligated by the Regulator to allocate a reasonable sum to undertake CSR-driven initiatives. Since early 2000s, we have been committed towards this objective with the mindset and motivation to reach out to maximum possible stakeholders.
BR: Are CSR activities in SSGC undertaken on solo basis or in conjunction with other stakeholders?
SI: Need analysis, scoping, planning, site surveys and execution are carried out either on solo basis or through strategic local partnerships with key governmental, non-governmental and not-for-profit, educational and health institutions. In many of the projects and especially of the brick and mortar type, the services of the Civil Works Department are taken into account.
I would like to mention here that our collaborative partners in CSR activities are reputed educational and healthcare institutions and established NGOs, who share with us the same vision of making a tangible difference in the lives of the communities whose cause we take up.
BR: How are CSR projects implemented in SSGC?
SI: To ensure swift delivery, maximum on ground impact and sustainability of social investments, all executions occur after due interventions and mutual agreement with stakeholders. The implementation of CSR projects is carried out in two basic ways; one, by providing monetary support to organizations of high repute, adequate local presence and relevant experience. These organizations approach the CSR Unit and submit their proposals.
These proposals are then reviewed to assess the need, scope and impact of that particular project on the community. The second approach involves providing brick and mortar support to educational institutions. In addition, scholarships are provided to deserving and meritorious students of the Company's franchise areas after necessary assessment and constant monitoring of their academic performances.
BR: What changes have taken place in the Company's CSR road map after more than a decade since SSGC started undertaking CSR initiatives?
SI: In the beginning, our focus was primarily on monetary and brick and mortar support to educational institutions for giving them a new lease of life through renovation of their structures. Then we moved on to providing scholarships to meritorious and deserving students enrolled in reputed institutions such as IBA, IoBM, LUMS, NED, MUET, QUEST and Balochistan University of IT, and Engineering and Management Services (BUITEMS). Many of these students are now gainfully employed and following their passion.
Along with providing scholarships, our focus has been on supporting institutions such as The Hunar Foundation that is working for ensuring skilled-based employment to its students as well as Markaz-e-Umeed for making their special students self-sufficient.
Similarly, in the field of healthcare we have partnered with NGOs like Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC), SIUT and Edhi Foundation and are proud of the fact that they are a part of our CSR repertoire. In the area of environment and community development, we are moving towards undertaking sustainable projects with positive long-term impact.
The Company has collaborated with IUCN in its drive to conserve mangroves by planting samplings and embarked on projects with Thardeep Rural Programme Program that were aimed at providing clean drinking water through dug-wells and collaborated with WWF for setting up bio-gas plants in District Thatta for providing alternate energy to local communities who lacked basic facilities for cooking. This year once again, we collaborated with Thal Paper Ltd. in re-launching environment friendly bio-degradable bags.
BR: Apart from the CSR Unit, is there an employee involvement in CSR activities in SSGC?
SI: A few years ago, we came up with this idea of 'Hum Qadam' which is a volunteering program that basically encourages SSGC's employees to volunteer in diverse community-driven initiatives. We have further categorized this program into a number of sub-sets.
They include a mentoring initiative called 'Mashal-e-Rah' through which the volunteers counsel less privileged students, a blood donation initiative termed 'Safeer-e-Hayat' through which they can donate blood to those in need, 'Ehsaas', a community service initiative through which they spend quality times in welfare homes dedicated to senior citizens, orphans and special children.
BR: Any thoughts you would like to share in the end.
SI: There are some who regard CSR as a public relation tool. There is no denying this objective. However, we at SSGC see CSR a sincere effort aimed towards a positive outcome for the community we are focusing on. And this sense of community is driven by a sense of caring.
While from the Company's perspective, CSR initiatives have made this company a responsible corporate entity, on a personal front, it has made me and my team more conscious towards giving a helping hand to the less fortunate around us. And this mindset of giving back to the community will eventually make us even better human beings.