The US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton presented Proctor & Gamble with the 13th annual Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) on Wednesday for the company's exceptional corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts in Pakistan.

The prestigious ACE recognises the important role of US businesses in advancing good corporate governance and democratic principles world-wide.

The award honours exemplary business practices, corporate social responsibility, and innovation in a company's overseas operations.

This year 62 nominations were received for American companies operating in 38 different countries.

Of these, some 13 companies were selected as award finalists.
P&G Pakistan and Nigeria were selected as the winners among this group, marking the first time a company has won the award for programs in two different countries.

P&G Pakistan was awarded the ACE for the company's efforts under its "Live, Learn, and Thrive" CSR program, including humanitarian assistance efforts that provided clean drinking water, food, hygiene products, and medical care available to over 1.9 million affected residents after the devastating 2010 floods, as well as establishing a network of schools, early education programs, and support for orphanages.

The ACE also recognises P&G for the implementation of science and technology standards, reduction of carbon dioxide emissions at its facilities, and collaboration with universities to develop young business leaders.

Bob McDonald, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Proctor & Gamble Company accepted the award in a ceremony held at the State Department in Washington, DC on January 18, 2012.

The US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter, attending the ceremony in Washington, praised P&G for their important work in Pakistan.

Accepting the award for P&G, Bob McDonald stated, "As you can see from these examples of the outstanding work we are doing in Pakistan and Nigeria, it is our fundamental belief that businesses can do well by doing good.

Everyone at P&G is proud of our contributions to make everyday life better and we are honoured by this recognition.
We remain committed to touching and improving lives, now and for generations to come."

The US Consul General in Karachi, William Martin and P&G Pakistan Country Manager Faisal Sabzwari joined the ceremony in Washington via digital video conferencing.

Speaking on the occasion, Sabzwari stated, "This year, P&G turns 20 years old in Pakistan and there is a lot to celebrate.
With the help of our partners, we have invested in the community where our brand and corporate CSR programs have touched and improved the lives of over 21 million Pakistanis to date."

Consul General Martin commented, "My first contact with Proctor & Gamble Pakistan was just a week after I first arrived in Karachi, at the onset of the catastrophic floods of 2010.

1 repeatedly witnessed firsthand, destitute men, women and children receiving the benefits of Proctor and Gamble Pakistan's generosity and compassion.
P&G Pakistan's response was not prodded, but clearly a result of their organic corporate ethos."