The ACCA-WWF has invited applications for the eighth ACCA-WWF Pakistan Environmental Reporting Awards (PERA) 2009 in the categories of Best Sustainability Report and Best Environmental Report for multinational and locally listed companies.
Launched in 2001 in Pakistan, the PERA is endorsed by the Ministry of Environment and IUCN Pakistan and is part of ACCA's global strategy to promote greater transparency in the reporting of organisations' social and environmental impacts, said a news release issued here.
Last year, the PERA winners were Attock Refinery Ltd (Best Sustainability Report-Local Listed Company), Pak Elektron Ltd (Best Environmental Report-Local Listed Company), Hinopak Motors Limited (Best Environmental Report-Multinational Company).
In addition, Qarshi Industries (Pvt) Ltd received commendation for commitment to transparency in reporting. Dr Afra Sajjad, Head of Education and Policy Development, ACCA Pakistan, said, "Today's corporations operate in an environment of intense scrutiny from the media, investors, regulatory authorities and public.
"Increasingly, the public concern about the social and environmental impacts of business practices is forcing companies to come to terms with being accountable to a much broader set of stakeholders and satisfy their interests and expectations through transparency in reporting. "Hence, we see more companies in Pakistan producing reports on their environmental and social performance or sustainability performance."
The ACCA-WWF PERA is increasingly gaining popularity with a record number of entries received in 2008 ie 44 against 40 in 2007 and 24 in 2006. The upward trend is manifestation of the interests of business community in developing best practices of environmental and sustainability reporting in Pakistan. The deadline for submission of environmental, social and sustainability reports for ACCA-WWF PERA 2009 is December 31, 2009.