ISLAMABAD: The Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC) celebrated its achievements on March 8 – the day the company laid the foundation stone of its first fertiliser plant at Goth Machhi 38 years ago, in 1979. The celebrations aimed at highlighting the story of the successful business through ethical and socially responsible business practices, not only for the benefit stakeholders but also for the people of Pakistan. The FFC, which started its journey from a fertilizer plant in 1979, has three plants now and is the largest producer of urea in Pakistan with an aggregate urea production capacity of well over 2 million tonnes per annum. Since then, the company has diversified by pioneering into wind energy in Pakistan (FFCEL), entering into the banking sector through the acquisition of Askari Bank, and introducing state-of-the-art food preservation technology (FFnF). The company has achieved a long-term credit rating of AA and short-term rating of A1+, denoting high credit worthiness and a very low expectation of credit risk; strengthening the confidence of the company’s stakeholders. The FFC has been recognised for professional achievements locally and internationally and became the first company ever to have achieved six consecutive first positions on PSX’s top 25 company placements. The FFC has been awarded for its business transparency and good corporate governance in South Asia by the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA). In recognition of its efforts towards community support and sustainable business practices, the United Nations Global Compact awarded the FFC a Business Excellence Award. In his message on the day, CE&MD Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmed appreciated the sheer hard work and dedication of the previous and present leadership and employees in making the FFC a brand for ethical and successful business nationally and internationally. “The FFC is much more than a fertiliser company. It is a trustworthy, socially responsible, and ethically defined company which looks after the benefits of all stakeholders, including the community,” he added. He reiterated his resolve to stand with the government and other stakeholders and business partners to support all endeavours in supporting the farming community in particular and other stakeholders in general for making Pakistan economically strong.