'Independence and responsibility go hand in hand'

Excerpts from an interview with Ali Asghar Jamali Chief Executive Officer, Indus Motors Company
Q. What does Independence mean to you as a person and as a nation?
A. Independence means to have absolute liberty of choice. It means that I can make my desired choices freely, without constraint. When I think of independence as a nation, it is the same thought which translates. Every citizen of an independent nation has the liberty to choose their government, their religion, their desired occupations and careers, and their preferred lifestyle. An independent nation is one where every citizen has access to basic human rights, is free to pursue different options in education, and is free to express himself/herself in the desired manner.
Most importantly, 14th August, for me, is a day to pay my respects to all those who bravely laid down their lives for Pakistan's independence years ago. Our freedom came at the cost of their sacrifices and we must not forget this.
Q. What responsibilities do you think Independence puts on a country's corporate sector?
A. Independence, for me also translates into responsibility and accountability. The freedom to make our individual choices comes with the responsibility to shoulder the consequences of those choices as well. One cannot exist without the other. Independence and responsibility go hand in hand. As citizens of Pakistan we have a duty to our homeland which we cannot sideline at any point.
Corporate organizations must follow the triple bottom line approach where success is measured not only in terms of profits but also in terms of people and the planet. Companies must invest in education and human capital development through comprehensive courses and training programmes. Companies must also realize their duty towards environment preservation and keep track of and ensure minimization of their carbon footprint especially in a country such as Pakistan in order to truly make a positive contribution to the country. Waste management is another concern that we as corporate citizens must address and treat as an issue of importance.
Q. How far do you think your company has reacted to those responsibilities?
A. IMC's biggest role to the economy of Pakistan is its contribution to the national exchequer which is approximately 1%. Our company follows a multi-faceted approach, focusing not only on profits but having a concern that goes beyond cars, on the planet and its people. We have recently taken up the challenge of building sustainable cities across Pakistan. As part of this endeavor, in FY18, IMC initiated a 5S clean drive carried out at 17 different locations in Karachi, bringing together local communities and encouraging IMC employees to volunteer in garbage collection and proper waste disposal. Additionally, IMC continues to partner with WWF for mangrove plantations and internal tree plantation drives that have become a regular annual activity. Additionally, IMC has taken up the challenge of planting 1 million trees in Pakistan in its efforts to be a responsible corporate citizen.
IMC also heavily invests in education and the transfer of knowledge. The Toyota Rural Education Programmes offer educational opportunities to underprivileged children in IMC's neighboring communities and the Toyota Technical Education Programme offers emerging young talent the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and equips them with the tools needed to succeed in the automotive industry. This certification expands employment opportunities for these young, bright individuals. Internally, IMC has spent over 2.1 million man hours on trainings so far. Multiple trainings require employees to travel to Japan, Thailand, and Singapore for workshops and for relevant exchange programmes.
Ali Asghar Jamali was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in January 2017. He has been with the company since October 2000 and has served in key roles in various departments, owing to which he has acquired rich experience in end to end management of the company operations.
He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan and has attended the Advance Management Programme at Harvard University and the Accelerated Management Programme at Wharton School of Business, USA.