PBC-IFC event: policy-makers, firms urged to empower women for economic growth

The Pakistan Business Council (PBC), the country's leading business advocacy group and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), jointly hosted an event titled "Driving Economic Growth through Women's Employment in Pakistan" in Karachi on Wednesday.
This event attracted many participants ranging from policy-makers, non-governmental organizations and in great numbers, private sector businesses. The initiative is part of a larger IFC effort to drive economic development in Pakistan and through the partnership, IFC and the PBC will show businesses how they can tap into a large - and underutilized - pool of female talent.
Sadaffe Abid, Founder CIRCLE kicked off the day by urging companies and policy-makers to elevate women's issues to the top of Pakistan's agenda as women's empowerment spurs economic growth and will help build a stronger Pakistan Global gender parity would add $ 28 trillion dollars to the economy by 2025 (McKinsey). Shabana Khawar, Principal Country Officer/Program Leader, IFC Pakistan spoke on how investing in women employment and gender smart job strategy can catalyze growth. Ms Shazia Syed, Board Member of PBC and CEO of Unilever Pakistan, then spoke about how 2018 is the year that will see the winds of change with the tide turning. She gave examples from Unilever Pakistan of the right policies to maintain a work/ life balance, grow women leaders and stressed the importance of mentoring.
Ms Tazeen Hasan, Senior Private Sector Development Specialist and Women, Business and the Law Expert, WBG, gave a detailed presentation on the survey of existing laws relating to women engaging in work across 173 countries. She concluded that Gender Equality is not only the right thing to do but is Smart Economics. This led to the first panel discussion that she facilitated on "Women's Economic Participation in Pakistan and Legal Barriers and Reform.
The panel comprised Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Assistant Secretary General, UN and Executive Secretary on UNESACP, Ms Khawar Mumtaz, CEO of the women's rights NGO, ShirkatGah, and Salman Sufi, Director General at the Chief Minister's Strategic Reforms Unit, Punjab Government. Some good outcomes were the need to facilitate the issuance of NICs to women, measuring the pay gap and a possible tax exemption to the corporate sector to increase the percentage of women in the work force incrementally.
The second panel on "The Role of the Private Sector in Increasing Women's Employment, Retention and Leadership Pipeline" brought together Ms Sima Kamil, President and CEO of UBL, Dr Zeelaf Munir, Director and CEO of English Biscuit Manufacturers, Shamsuddin Shaikh, CEO, Engro Powergen, Murtaza Ahmed, Vice President, Artistic Milliners. The panel brought out useful local experiences and case studies on how Gender Equality should not be equated with CSR and there being a need to make the work place a safe environment where diversity is appreciated.
The awareness video on Women's Employment in Pakistan was also released during the event in which PBC member companies, such as Standard Chartered, HubCo, Unilever and UBL showcased good gender practices in the private sector, thereby encouraging other organizations to follow suit.
Companies also had the chance to make pledges on the pledge wall. The idea behind the pledge wall was to ask these organizations "What can you do today? They were to choose one internal and one external commitment that the company could commit to for the remaining part of the year Progress of these commitments will be recognized appropriately towards the end of the year in an Employer of Choice Award Conference Altogether 22 pledges were made on the Pledge Wall.-PR