Most responsible organisations and businesses in Pakistan are making cash and in-kind donations for humanitarian and religious reasons. About 60 per cent of Public Listed Companies (PLCs) make some sort of contributions to charitable or social development initiatives.
Humanitarian and faith-based donations mostly go to social sectors such as education and health. Some of the major factors determining philanthropy could include tax benefits, marketing advantages and better public relations. Despite the developing state of its economy, philanthropy is common in Pakistan.
CSR, however, is at a nascent stage of development. In recent years responsible multinationals and national companies have started executing CSR projects and creating positive examples for others to follow. The momentum could build up but is contingent on a positive and sustainable business environment.
Pakistan’s leading businesses have wowed to abide by and adopt the ten guiding principles laid down by the UN Global Compact. But not all of them have tangible CSR programmes. The number of those who have CSR programmes is, nevertheless, gradually on the rise.

We sincerely hope that by the time we are putting together the 2010 edition of CSR Pakistan, there will be many more progressive CSR projects and programmes in place to benefit millions of people across the country. This could only happen if businesses operate freely and sustain profitability to become ethical and socially responsible corporate citziens of Pakistan.