CSR Research “Back Home”: A Critical Review of Literature and Future Research Optioning in Pakistan

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide a review of the current state of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Pakistan and captures review of literature of most important work to date. This paper aims to systematically assess existing research chronologically, to analyse methodological tools and to explore future research option in the context of Pakistan. The review indicates vividly that companies practice CSR as short term, reactive and based on philanthropic activity. Most of the studies state that CSR is “an emerging idea” in Pakistan but limited number of academic and non- academic research on CSR clearly does not support this argument. Moreover, focus of most of CSR research is towards child labour issues and leather and textile industry. We establish on the basis of review of the literature that the currently popular methodological approach among researchers is either a micro-level case study approach or a macro-level exploratory approach. It is concluded therefore, that the limited number of researches in Pakistan on CSR provides opportunity for further research in different sectors. In addition to this, the scope of CSR in Pakistan can be extended towards a wide range of CSR issues including environment, stakeholders and corporate social disclosure. Moreover, it is suggested, a more predictive, pragmatic and empirical research methodologies should be adopted in future.