By Special Arrangement from Pakistan Cables Ltd
Paying attention to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues is becoming increasingly critical for all companies across all industries. The message from the ongoing climate change crisis and subsequent call for action is clear – businesses need to align a sustainability strategy, set sustainability targets and reap rewards in harmony with the communities it serves.
Sustainability is best defined in 5th grades science text book as ‘the practice of using natural resources responsibly today, so they are available for future generations tomorrow’. Forests made up about 30 percent of Earth’s land mass in 2015, but that number is at risk of decreasing. The world population is expected to increase from 7.6 to 9.8 billion people by the year 2050. To decrease our dependency on fossil fuels, many scientists are researching renewable energy sources.
As the expectations on corporate responsibility increase, and the need to respond to the rapidly growing social and environmental challenges arise, as a business leader Pakistan Cables responded by speeding up its efforts to act on sustainability.
The Company has a rich history of investing in sustainable business practices. However, more recently, following sustainability initiatives illustrate the Company’s lead on advocating sustainability within the industry:
- First to launch a true innovation in the industry – ACCC® conductors, which are proven to reduce Green House Gases (GHG) and Carbon di Oxide (CO2) emissions. It is the first electric transmission in its history to earn the SCS Global Certification. This makes ACCC® conductors as an ideal choice to counter the growing demands of the power sector in adapting efficient solutions that guarantee low carbon footprint. It is installed in over 250 utilities globally, over 50 countries with over 110,000 km of ACCC® in service completing 800 projects completed worldwide.
- Recently, the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) upgraded to ACCC® Drake conductors for its 132 kV transmission line from KAPCO to Kott Addu Grid station and reconductored its existing AAAC Greely Conductor. As a result, capacity of the transmission line grew from 1,800 Amps to 3,200 Amps. With its decision to pilot with an innovative technology available in Pakistan, MEPCO successfully increased the capacity of the transmission line by 78 percent and a substantial reduction in line losses. Interestingly sag profile of the transmission line also improved, which was a huge relief for the residents residing in buildings under the transmission lines. Without any modification to the structure the reconducting was successfully completed by Pakistan Cables Ltd. on behalf of MEPCO.
- Pakistan Cables Ltd has three successful installations nationwide. During 2018-2019, Pakistan Cables Ltd. completed the qualification process for producing ACCC® conductors at its manufacturing facility in Karachi which was conducted under the supervision of CTC Global Inc., USA.
- Pakistan Cables became one of the first 26 local companies who signed the Business Ambition for 1.5°C Commitment in October 2021. The pledge is aligned to Company’s ambition with keeping warming to 1.5°C and reaching science-based net-zero emissions by 2050. Pakistan Cables has long been an advocate of green initiatives and proud of its commitment in advocating sustainability in businesses and among communities by standing united with global business leaders on the climate change.
- Planted over 40,000 trees were successfully planted at the Pakistan Cables Urban Forest spread across 3 acres at its upcoming manufacturing facility in Nooriabad. The Pakistan Cables Urban Forest is the first and largest Miyawaki based urban forest on an industrial estate. It is home to 69 native species which include olives, pomegranate, neem, and various other species.
- For almost three years Pakistan Cables in collaboration with HELP Balochistan, a non-governmental organization (NGO), supports distribution drives of solar lamps regularly to the miners’ communities in Balochistan. A European company produced a drinking straw that filters bacteria, so people can safely drink water from contaminated ponds and lakes. Pakistan Cables, once again, collaborated with Help Balochistan to distribute the drinking straw as well as drinking water vessels in parts of Balochistan where the local community does not have access to clean drinking water for decades.
- It is abundantly clear that sustainability is not a fad but a megatrend that is here to stay. It will continue to influence consumer behaviour, supply chains and business operations globally. The battle to win the threat of climate change cannot be won alone. Collaboration across businesses, communities and other stakeholders is critical for efficient sustainability practices to thrive, particularly in solving crises and shaping broader solutions for a sustainable future.
