Disqus - Latest Comments for SaadK

Re: Social Bridges is Closing Down

SaadK — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:50:40 -0000

OK. I have made my new blog on socially responsible business practices plus environment and sustainability. Here is the URL

http://responsiblepakistan....

Do join me there!

Re: Social Bridges is Closing Down

SaadK — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:30:32 -0000

Just to add an update. I might launch my personal blog on CSR, sustainability and greener options as these things are really close to my heart. Following is my mail address if you want any additional information.

isbreal@yahoo.com

Regards,

Saad

Re: Social responsibility requires unified approach, not double standards

SaadK — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:33:10 -0000

I didn't know that you are basically from PR. So since you are involved with these companies you'll definitely attack the facts. We don't have any real environmental surveilllance group here and the facts I stated are correct. Had you been an independent environmentalist, I would have appreciated your comments but since this fact dawned on me....same is not the case.

Re: Social responsibility requires unified approach, not double standards

SaadK — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:33:04 -0000

You are right here. But, according to new green working practices, they are
morally though not legally bound to reveal such data. ENGRO is doing this so
others can follow suit. Still I agree that we can't force them to do this.

As for the other thing, unidentified sources have always been used in news
reporting world over; still it can make people think about the current
practices so that they can question such companies for their practices -
especially those living in close vicinities of the production plants, NPOs
and civil society. Green movements need an impetus to get started in
developing countries.

On another note, I do admit that the post was rather over-the-top and I do
apologize.

Best,

Re: Social responsibility requires unified approach, not double standards

SaadK — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:52:00 -0000

Yeah you are right that these looks more like speculation as these companies don't release emissions data nor any third party regime is currently available. As for the insider sources, I have no other option but to use the facts provided.

Re: Social responsibility requires unified approach, not double standards

SaadK — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:15:37 -0000

These are some additional sources which I missed in my comments..

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModel...

http://www.lakes-environmen...

http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges....

Re: Social responsibility requires unified approach, not double standards

SaadK — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:12:49 -0000

I would not reveal any more details because it will look biased to just discuss two companies while others are also not angels. As for the soda ash and polyster production of ICI, they also are not following the industrial standards according to ideal standards. Carbon monoxide, ammonia and other emissions are a big health and environmental issue in Chakwal.

Actually I tried to contact them for getting their emissions and environmental data but to no avail. They also don't discuss their emissions in their annual reports. ENGRO is the only Pakistani company, I guess, which has detailed charts about all the waste production and recycling, emissions and other data available for public. Also no proper environmental and emission mapping of Pakistan has ever been conducted to come up with third party data.

I would again repeat that this article was written in good faith, based on personal experience plus some work I have done. I would really love if we can create a platform to sort out this issue. You and others can help us in this :)

Best Regards,

Re: Social responsibility requires unified approach, not double standards

SaadK — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:04:59 -0000

Sorry for not replying to you earlier as I was out of town with no internet access and just got back. Was just typing my response when I got this second comment of yours :)

First of all thanks for your comments and raising these thought provoking points. I have mentioned these two companies as I have visited their facilities in Chakwal and Akora Khattak and have some acquaintances working there so have an insider info. As for PTC, the ideal phosphine emission from tobacco production and warehousing should be between 0.3-0.4 millimeter per cubic meter of air.http://209.85.175.132/search?q=cache:oSSKjEY3FJcJ:www.cdc.gov/Ni...

PTC, on the other hand, has as high as 2-5 mm per cubic meter of air. Add to this the partially treated affluents drained into Kabul river - plus the solid waste dumped. People over there are suffering because of this.

Re: Green Energy - 4: Biogas options in Pakistan

SaadK — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:02:23 -0000

Sure Waqas. Are you already working on this project and have any Web site/resource about it?

You can also mail me at
saad@cdfsoftware.com

Regards,

Re: Top 20 posts of the week - CSR, sustainability, Greener options

SaadK — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:31:57 -0000

Thanks for the info, Erika. Have corrected the entry.

Regards,

Re: Corporate giants under fire - 3

SaadK — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:30:21 -0000

You are absolutely right, Andrew. Oil companies have one of the most dubious credentials. I don't know why they have failed to come up with some practical solutions up till now.

Re: Asia’s future is green: An interview with Mr. Eugene Tay, founder of AsiaIsGreen

SaadK — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:37:30 -0000

Thanks for your comments, Ian. I'll email you ASAP.

Best wishes,

Saad

Re: We’re back!

SaadK — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:12:32 -0000

Thanks for the compliment, Shereen :)

Re: Top 20 posts of the week: CSR, Sustainability, Greener Options

SaadK — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:44:10 -0000

Andrew,

You always write good posts so they make their way to the top 20 lists :)

Re: Round Up: Interviews with Pakistani executives about CSR and more

SaadK — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:40:48 -0000

Yeah, they have finally started some good work. Tribal one is a good project but they need to expand it further to help more and more artisans and communities.

Re: An interview with Mr. Nauman Shaikh of ENGRO: We are actively involved in social activities

SaadK — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:09:47 -0000

Muniba,

ENGRO is doing quite good for the community and Nauman did admit that his company was not able to meet the environmental targets. We leave the judgment on our readers in this regard as they are the best persons to decide.

Re: An interview with Ms. Nausheen Jivani of P&G Pakistan: Our CSR activities foucs children

SaadK — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:05:44 -0000

Thanks for your comments, Muniba.

Re: An interview with Mr. Nauman Shaikh of ENGRO: We are actively involved in social activities

SaadK — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:11:39 -0000

Thanks, Farah :)

Re: An interview with Enrico Wensing: Founder of Ecosphere Net & author of I Am Sustainability: How the Human Body can Save the Planet

SaadK — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:16:23 -0000

Thanks, Shereen. Yeah you have raised valid points. We'll look into these suggestions.

Cheers,

Saad

Re: An interview with Ms. Valerie Khan of Acid Survivors Foundation: Working towards a Pakistan free of acid victims

SaadK — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:23:25 -0000

I agree with Qazi. Smile Again is also doing a good job and so is ASF. There is no need of drawing comparisons. Instead we should support such organizations.

Re: Revolutionary Ideas - III: More greener options

SaadK — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:09:35 -0000

You're welcome :)

Re: Google comes up with another great idea: Project 10 to the 100th

SaadK — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:08:49 -0000

That's great. Good luck!

Re: An interview with Ms. Valerie Khan of Acid Survivors Foundation: Working towards a Pakistan free of acid victims

SaadK — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:48:10 -0000

Thanks :)

Re: An interview with Ms. Valerie Khan of Acid Survivors Foundation: Working towards a Pakistan free of acid victims

SaadK — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:11:28 -0000

Ali,

ASF and other organizations are indeed doing a great work in not just helping out the victims but also pressing for the enforcement of laws and creating awareness. If these organizations continue their good work then we can expect that this disease will be wiped out from this country.

Re: Labour laws and implementation - two sides of ‘not the same’ coin in Pakistan

SaadK — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:57:14 -0000

Drew,

The actual problem is that many workers can't risk staging big protests and campaign as they can't withstand months of unemployment due to grim poverty situation here. However, if some brave workers who are willing to fight for their rights to the fullest come forward and are able to get some support from the international circles and of course the media then we can expect some changes.