One of Pakistan’s leading biscuit manufacturers, EBM has collaborated with the Department For International Development (DFID), Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan and other product partners on Project Hope, an initiative which aims to empower women in rural communities and help eradicate various health issues prevalent in these areas such as diarrhea.

EBM's objective behind this collaboration is to create awareness regarding health, as well as focus on the importance of nutrition and hygiene.

The project’s empowerment plan also involves the distribution of baskets filled with essential health and hygiene products.

EBM is also offering Peek Freans Gluco, one of their leading brands rich in essential calcium and vitamins, at affordable rates in these areas.

Project Hope has been designed to help low-income households help themselves, as well as encourage them to bring a long-term positive change within their communities.

It focuses specifically on women, who are considered the main decision-makers of households, to adopt good hygiene and cleaning practices in order to prevent the spread of illness and keep their families healthy.

All the collaborating institutions have come together to integrate this model and scale it up to reach one million households across Punjab, in order to ensure greater social impact in a sustainable manner.

"Project Hope is bringing together companies and the greater civil society and get health and hygiene products to new markets," said Laura Kelly, the UK-based head of business engagement at the Department for International Development. "The approach is also helping to economically empower rural women for business and development."

Dr. Zeelaf Munir, Managing Director and CEO of EBM, also expressed her views on the need for sustainable development within Pakistan. “EBM has always believed in giving the best to its consumers. The ethos of the company has always been working towards the greater good, so this initiative really ties in with our own philosophy. We have believed in sustainable practices from the very beginning and that when a community grows, so does the company.”

"It goes without saying that the provision of good quality nutrition has enabled populations all over the world to thrive and succeed. By instilling the need for the adoption of nutritious foods and hygiene, we will be taking one step closer towards the possibility of a much brighter future for Pakistan," she added.

Other product partners for the project include Shield Corporation, Shan Foods and Santex, with support from the UK DFID funded Business Innovation Facility (BIF) and Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN).

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