Investing in Sustainable Development

Sustainable development lies at the heart of the way in which we do business. Over the years, through our extensive network of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, we have made significant contributions to the socio-economic uplift of the areas in which we operate.

All exploration and production companies operating in Pakistan are obligated to deposit Social Investment funds with the relevant district government. This is a regulatory requirement and the budgets for obligatory Social Investment funds are tagged to production. We not only fulfill this legal obligation but go the extra mile by spending on CSR projects on a discretionary basis. Every year a sizeable budget is earmarked for our discretionary CSR initiatives.

Our CSR projects are aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focus on eight out of seventeen SDGs, including helping provide primary and secondary education, access to clean drinking water, partnership for goals, decent work and economic growth, affordable and clean energy, innovation, gender equality, and quality health services for the local communities. Over the years, we have delivered our CSR projects in partnership with district administrations and leading NGOs, including The Citizens Foundation (TCF) and Aga Khan University (AKU). UEP also makes an active effort to combat climatic degradation in its concession areas. These efforts include planting over 2,000 trees in its TCF schools and constructing multiple Reverse Osmosis Plants to make clean drinking water more accessible.

Wherever possible we seek to hire from our local communities. We run the Operator Training programme to provide technical training for youth from our concession areas. All applicants for the programme undergo a rigorous exam and interview process. Many young people recruited through this programme have gone on to assume senior positions at our company.

To contribute to the local economy, we encourage local businesses to be part of our supply chain. Over the years we have developed the expertise of several local contractors and our contract companies have grown in scale and skills. Several local contractors are now managing major civil construction projects in our operating areas and providing employment opportunities to locals.

Through our business we make a positive contribution in the lives of our host communities and contribute to the nation’s progress.