I am pleased to learn that Pakistan Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) is organizing its second Professional Development Conference & Exposition at Karachi on December 07-08, 2018 with the theme of “Promoting Sustainable HSE Culture in Pakistan”
The present government fully recognizes the significance of safety at the workplace and creation of decent work conditions. It places a very high priority on human capital development & capacity building. We are committed to interact and engage with all stake holders for preventing illnesses & injuries in the Pakistani workplaces to create a competitive and sustainable business model based on effective legislation, competent enforcement machinery & a committed & progressive business leadership & conscious workforce.
We realize that Pakistan has archaic laws, regulatory and enforcement challenges, knowledge and awareness issues and business, financial and social problems which require comprehensive solutions. These have direct effects resulting in human sufferings and direct losses to the employers and the workers, but the indirect consequences include huge social costs, loss of state revenue, inaccessibility to international trade and markets, poor productivity and loss of competitiveness, etc.
It is good to learn that the Pakistan Chapter of ASSP has taken several initiatives in various fields including regulatory reforms, training & capacity building, advocacy & awareness. It has engaged & interacted with various federal & provincial ministries & departments, ILO, employers & workers forums, educational institutions, public & private organizations, local & international agencies and social action groups for developing cooperative synergies for promoting safer, healthier & decent work places.
I am confident that this Conference will provide a useful platform for effective & meaningful consultation between government officials, economic planners, business leaders, employee representatives, academia & OSH professionals. The government hopes that these consultations will culminate in sound recommendations and action plans aimed at Promoting Sustainable HSE Culture in Pakistan.
The present Government fully supports and encourages these efforts of the Pakistan Chapter of ASSP and assures its full assistance and patronage as well as to seek professional advice and guidance from it for furthering the government’s agenda of social welfare and justice, and an inclusive, equitable & egalitarian economic growth through human capital investment.