KARACHI:,,, Naeem Qureshi, the President of the National Forum for Environment and Health, has been appointed as the new Convener of the CSR Central Standing Committee of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the year 2024-25.

FPCCI President, Atif Ikram Sheikh, appointed Qureshi as the Central Standing Committee convener keeping in view his years-long services to promote greenery in urban areas, prevent deforestation, greater use of renewable energy sources, reduce harmful industrial emissions and urban waste, and building mass transit systems in cities to reduce vehicular emissions and congestions on roads.

The Central Standing Committee in question will comprise a minimum of nine members to be selected by the convener based on their experience in promoting the cause of SDGs in the country. The committee will meet at least once quarterly to discuss and finalise the agenda of SDGs for businesses and industries in Pakistan.

In his statement on the occasion, Qureshi expressed gratitude to the FPCCI President, United Business Group Chairman Zubair Tufail, and National Business Group Chairman Mian Zahid Hussain, for reposing fullest trust in him by appointing him as convener of one of the important standing committees of the FPCCI.

Qureshi said that as the Convener of the Standing Committee, he would take along all the relevant stakeholders from civil society, NGOs, non-profits, the economy, industry, and businesses, to further the agenda of conforming industrialisation and business activities to the SDGs.

He said the committee would act as a bridge between businesses, industry, and civil society to ensure that business and industrial activities lead to sustainable development in Pakistan.