[dropcap]D[/dropcap]riven by its concern for improving the quality of life, SSGC regularly invests in corporate social responsibility projects in collaboration with government and non-governmental organizations in the areas of education, health, environment and community development, including provision of relief support in the aftermath of natural catastrophes.
SSGC has been involved in undertaking CSR projects in the areas of education, health and environment since the last ten years or so. The Company either takes up projects on its own or in conjunction with key governmental, non-governmental, not-for profit, educational and health institutions. The Company’s CSR Unit which is an integral part of its Corporate Communication Department undertakes CSR related projects. In many of the projects and especially of the brick and mortar type, the services of the Civil Works section are taken into account.
The implementation of CSR projects is carried out in two basic ways: one way is to provide monetary support to organizations of high repute, adequate local presence and relevant experience. These organizations approach the CSR Unit and submit 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 and monetary support are provided to deserving and meritorious students of the Company’s franchise areas. Before embarking on any project, the CSR Unit studies and investigates the proposals received, carries out the required assessments and monitors the projects in terms of progress, delivery and impact on the beneficiaries. At the end of the day, cohesion, consistency and transparency are ensured.
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EDUCATION: During 2015-16, SSGC continued to support the deserving pursuing their academic goals at some of the most reputable educational institutions in the country. Some notable partnerships included providing scholarships to the deserving students of IBA (Karachi), NEDUET (Karachi), FCC (Lahore), MUET (Jamshoro), QUEST (Nawabshah), IoBM (Karachi), Sukkur IBA and Al-Hijrah Schools Trust (Ziarat).
Other worthy associations included providing educational assistance to 10 school students of Pakistan Army’s Chamalang Balochistan Education Program (Quetta), supporting TCF students of TCF schools in Quetta and Larkana, providing monetary support to students of Indus
Resource Centre, FESF and The Hunar Foundation. Monetary support was provided to Rimsha Khan, a determined young student from DUHS to help her pursue her MBBS program. The Company also sponsored TCF Golf Tournament, with the contribution to be utilized by TCF for educating nine of its students.
HEALTH: During the year under review, the CSR unit provided monetary support to Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre’s Triple Merger Centre in Mirpurkhas and Eye Clinic in Gwadar. The Company also gave financial support to Fatimid Kidney Centre, Quetta for sponsoring treatment of 94 thalassaemic patients of Balochistan region as well as to AMTF, Karachi for bearing the annual expense of blood transfusion of more than 200 patients. The Company also provided dialyzer re-processor for Kidney Dialysis Clinic in Karachi and provided 600 units of anti-snake injections to Jhal Magsi Rural Health Centre. The CSR Unit also helped set up a Free Medical Camp in Machar Colony in collaboration with Imkaan Welfare Organization and also supported Saylani Welfare Trust. HASWA was also supported for providing artificial limbs to 30 people.
ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: In the area of environment, the Company collaborated with IUCN in its drive to save mangroves in the vicinity of the SSGC-LPG Terminal in Port Qasim area. The Company also collaborated with WWF-Pakistan in the NGO’s Beach Cleaning Activity in Clifton beach that involved about 500 students from the government schools of Karachi. The CSR Unit also continued with its collaboration with Thal Limited for the production of 140,000 bio-degradable environmental friendly paper bags. In addition, the Company provided monetary support to Alamgir Welfare Trust for establishing five heat stroke camps in different localities of Karachi.
SSGC does not promise to change the landscape overnight, but the Company surely works with the ultimate aim of creating a positive impact in the lives of the local community members. Ensuring sustainability is a tall yet not an impossible feat. However, the Company has always progressed with sincerity and passion to make a tangible difference in peoples’ lives.