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Murtaza Ahmed

SDG Pioneer for gender equality and

decent work

Murtaza Ahmed is elevating Pakistan’s

garment industry onto the leading

edge of corporate sustainability.

Since joining Artistic Milliners as managing director in 8 (Decent Work). In March 2019, Artistic Milliner became
2012, Murtaza has set up Pakistan’s first U.S. Green the first denim company in Pakistan to carry the Fair
Building Council LEED-certified garment factory and Trade USA stamp. There are only 50 factories in the
filled 50 per cent of the company’s top management world that run the Fair Trade business model. Murtaza
with women. works tirelessly on gender quality issues: helping
women live more satisfying lives; improving the
This year, Murtaza worked to create a factory carrying company’s bottom line; and advancing Goal 5 (Gender
the Platinum certification issued by the Council’s Equality). The Board of Directors is now composed of
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, 16 men and 16 women.
known around the world as LEED. These certification
credentials dovetail with seven Sustainable Murtaza, 34 years of age, has developed a campaign
Development Goals: Goal 3 (Good Health and — #WomenatMilliners — and expanded its
Well-Being); Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation); Goal momentum through partnerships with other groups.
7 (Affordable and Clean Energy); Goal 9 (Industry, Artistic Milliners has been a participant of the United
Innovation and Infrastructure); Goal 12 Nations Global Compact since April 2018 and is an
(Responsible Consumption and Production); Goal active member of Global Compact Network Pakistan.
13 (Climate Action); and Goal 17 (Partnership for Through Network Pakistan, the company has
the Goals). become a signatory to the Women’s Empowerment
Principles and participated in Network Pakistan
The company ‘s certification as a Fair Trade USA factory forums, such as “Linking SDGs with Sustainable
also accelerates Pakistan’s shift towards achieving Goal Business Growth”, in 2018.

October/November 2019