Colgate-Palmolive Pakistan is actively involved in social work and community activities through its two social service arms:

(i) Hassanali Karabhai Foundation
The Hassanali Karabhai Foundation, established in 1980, operates a wide range of humanitarian services, from disbursing educational aid to operating medical welfare programs and providing funds for widows and orphans. The Foundation runs eye camps for the poor and needy, where eye tests as well as cataract surgeries are conducted by highly doctors and nurses, and glasses are given free of charge where necessary. Many of these eye camps have been held on the premises of various Lakson Group companies, and the staff of various companies has volunteered their time to assist in the running of these camps.

The Foundation has also built a 32-bed hospital in Swabi in the North West Frontier Province, where the needy are treated for a range of medical problems. The hospital operates on a non-profit basis, and offers free hospitalization to the poor. In addition, the Lakson Group operates a mobile dispensary service which dispenses free medical services to the poor. The Lakson Group has also funded vaccination programs for diseases like Hepatitis B among children, especially in special schools.

In cases of natural catastrophes in the country, the entire and management and staff of the staff of the Lakson Group have reached out to assist people who were affected. For instance, when a cyclone hit Thatta and Badin, Lakson's staff supplied rice, blankets clothing and other necessary items to the people affected by the cyclone.

(ii) Medical Trust
The Trust commenced its operations in 1994, when it started organizing a series of free eye camps all over the country.  At the camps, eye tests and eye surgeries were carried out for the poor and needy, and glasses were given out free of charge.  Aimed at eradicating curable blindness in the country, these camps were operated by highly qualified doctors and nurses.  Company employees also volunteered their time and assisted in their organization of these camps.

In 1998, the foundation stone of the Lakson Medical Trust Hospital was laid in Mardan.  The objective of this hospital was to establish a resource centre which would not only continue holding free eye camps, but also act as an institution for research on prevention, control and treatment of curable blindness.  The hospital started functioning in May 2001, and has 14 beds as well as an operating theater with state-of-the-art surgical equipment.  Since then, it has had over 50,000 OPD patients, and almost 2,500 operations have been performed in its operating theater.

In 2002, the Medical Trust laid the foundation stone of a second eye hospital, in Sahiwal.  This hospital started functioning in March 2004, with 18 beds and an operating theater.  Within its first month, the hospital had over 1,400 OPD patients, and almost 350 surgeries had been performed in its operating theater.

A third eye hospital is currently being constructed in Kotri, which is projected to start operating in March 2005.