No female made CEO in any multinational firm so far: International Women Leaders Summit told

Contrary to the efforts made by the modern world to eliminate gender discrimination particularly in developing countries, no female is so far allowed to serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in any multinational firm of developed countries. This was stated by a Turkish speaker Dr Seema Suvarigolu at 1st International Women Leaders Summit held at a local hotel here on Wednesday.
In spite of spreading propaganda against Islam regarding gender discrimination, the percentage of female CEOs remains nil in United States, Britain, Belgium, Italy and others. However, the same stands at 12 percent in Turkey where 98 percent population is Muslim, she appraised.
In his welcome address, Salman Burney, President, Pakistan Society for Training and Development said the vision for this conference is to make women draw inspiration from global and Pakistani leaders and overcome the stereotypical barriers, which restrict their growth and success.
Rokia Afzal Rehman, former minister from Bangladesh in his keynote address on "Enterprising Women-Lessons from South & Far East Asia" said the energy of women is the key-point of moving forward women issues, which are not for women alone but for society at large.
Realising the facts that the families in South Asia invest only in boys, the Bangladeshi government, therefore, provides free education to rural girls up to grade 12 that has led to make a big social change in the country. Rachel Kyte, vice president sustainable development at the World Bank in her video address stressed the need for more women political leaders and entrepreneurs to continue to build civil society and the peace process.
She also remarked that the number of women in management and board rooms provides for better risk management and more balanced judgement. Representatives of leading business organisations including Asad Umar President Pakistan Business Council, Mian Abrar President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Zafar Khan of Institute of Business Administration highlighted the role of businesses to promote gender diversity in the panel discussion.
Later, Yasmin Hyder, Chief Executive, New World Concepts stated that the driving force of this conference is to provide a forum for dynamic female leaders, entrepreneurs, opinion makers in the region to explore their potential, share their success and inspire many more to take their lead. She added that the presence of international and Pakistani speakers lends global earning opportunities for women entrepreneurs and professionals in Pakistan.