Page 7 - In the Loop - Jul - Sep, 2020

Asian Dialogue: Getting Through the Crisis Together

A webinar on ‘What Changes can Suppliers Expect from where the financial institutions provide manufacturers discounts
their Client in Europe and How can they Manage Financial on their invoices to improve their cash flows. Further
Risks’ was held on Aug 13, 2020. emphasizing the importance of conducting ethical business,
he stressed that the orders manufactured before the
Jointly organized by GIZ FABRIC and Partnership for pandemic should be entertained as per Pre-COVID
Sustainable Textile, the speakers shared their opinions on agreements with no provision of discounts.
maintaining supply chains amid COVID-19. They also
discussed the role of brands to prevent struggling supply Also, the brands and retailers should continue the business
chains through potential changes at brand headquarters with existing suppliers and should not switch to cheaper
as well as further streamlining relations between buying sources as this is the perfect time for them to work together
teams & producers. It was emphasized to gauge the expectations by keeping the communication transparent. Feedback
of suppliers from the brands and retailers, while placing about customer behavior during the pandemic should be
new orders to ensure that supply chain partners remain communicated to the manufacturers to maintain a resilient
financially healthy. supply chain.
Sharing his expert views on the futuristic approach of the The distinguished panel of speakers also included Tobias
supply chain in Pakistan, Musadaq Zulqarnain, Chairman Fischer, Sustainability Advisor H&M, and Bernd Deutscher,
Interloop Limited, reflected that there should be an arrangement Global Sourcing Director ORSAY.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment is at the
heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
UNWomen in Pakistan. Hosted by UNWomen Pakistan, a
webinar on the Gendered Impact of COVID-19 in Pakistan
was held on Jul 22, 2020, highlighting the role of the private
sector in supporting women during COVID-19.

The veteran panelists from Unilever, Jazz, Interloop Limited,
and Engro shared promising initiatives, practices, challenges,
and solutions within their organizations to address the
specific needs and concerns of women during the pandemic.

Representing Interloop Limited at the forum, Humayun
Khan, Head of Corporate Communication, highlighted key
company initiatives and deliberated on better career Gender diversity is high on the company’s agenda and
opportunities for females at Interloop. He elaborated that several policies and practices at Interloop ensure their
the well-being of our people has always been our top implementation across the board. We value STEM
priority. Facing such an unprecedented challenge, we took professionals and provide a conducive environment for
major steps to safeguard the health and safety of our females holding technical degrees along with defined
people and ensured the continuity of our business. Our HR growth in their career. In his closing remarks, he
& MIS teams concentrated on educating our employees by highlighted that the company truly believes in empowering
providing trainings, support, and resources that ensured a women through employment and skill enhancement as it
successful transition. Detailed instructions on various helps them achieve financial stability for themselves and
measures including awareness campaigns about disease their families.
& prevention, symptoms screenings, social distancing
efforts, and working from home options were communicated Moderated by Shahnaz Kapadia, the distinguished panel
in time and at regular intervals through SOPs & multiple of speakers included Fareeha Ummar, Portfolio Manager,
communication channels. UNWomen Pakistan; Asma Yousaf, Head of HR Services,
Unilever Pakistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; Humayun
Talking about the family-friendly policies introduced by the Javed, Head of Corporate Communications, Interloop
company, he said that Interloop was one of the fourteen Limited; Aisha Sarwari, Director Corporate Communications,
companies in Pakistan to participate in the first-ever private Jazz Pakistan and Rizwan Masood Raja, Chief People
sector peer learning collaboration led by IFC-PBC. Officer, Engro.

07