WBCSD President Bjorn Stigson launched the BCSD Pakistan today in Karachi. The creation of the Pakistani BCSD is the result of a joint initiative of WBCSD members Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

BCSD Pakistan establishment was announced during a seminar organized by PSO in cooperation with the Management Association of Pakistan (MAP). At that meeting, Bjorn Stigson, Jalees Siddiqi, CEO of PSO, and Tariq Kirmani, CEO of PIA signed a Memorandum of Understanding officially incorporating BCSD Pakistan in the WBCSDRegional Network. The Network now comprises 59 partner organization involving over 1,500 business leaders in a commitment to sustainable development worldwide.

In his keynote address, Stigson welcomed the Pakistani BCSD, stressing its importance in enhancing the WBCSD engagement in a region of growing consequence. Siddiqi and Kirmani said that BCSD Pakistan aims to reach beyond Pakistan border to the wider business community in the region.

Prior to the launch, Pakistan Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, strongly endorsed the creation of the Pakistani BCSD. In a meeting with the President of the WBCSD, its Pakistani members and senior Cabinet Ministers in Islamabad, Prime Minister Aziz welcomed the private sector involvement in addressing the country most pressing sustainability challenges. The Prime Minister added that he is confident that BCSD Pakistan will provide an essential platform to promote public-private partnerships for development.