KARACHI: Indus Motor Company’s (IMC) unique social initiative, the National Flag Collection drive, now in its seventh year, has received significant attention and appreciation over the years. Each year, a dedicated team of young volunteers from IMC takes to the streets of Karachi on the morning after Independence Day celebrations to retrieve national flags that have been discarded or left in disarray.
The excitement of Independence Day often leaves the city adorned in green and white, with flags proudly displayed in every neighborhood. However, the day after, these symbols of national pride are often found torn, littered on streets, or discarded in garbage heaps, a sight that diminishes the spirit of the celebration.
As part of Toyota’s 5S philosophy, IMC, under its CSR banner “Concern Beyond Cars,” mobilizes its employees through an Employee Volunteering Programme every 15th of August. Over 60 volunteers, dressed in Toyota red t-shirts and white baseball caps featuring the crescent and star, equipped with protective gear, follow six designated routes across the city to collect and respectfully dispose of the scattered flags on the company’s premises. IMC’s Chief Executive, Ali Asghar Jamali, remarked, “This initiative is a true expression of patriotism, not just for us at IMC, but also for the public who witness our volunteers in action, preserving our symbol of pride.”
