PSX, WB representatives celebrate Int'l Women's Day

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), for the second consecutive year, celebrated International Women's Day on Thursday in a befitting manner, which was attended by hundred of professional women representing different walks of life.

The PSX organized this programme, in collaboration with United Nations' Women Forum, World Bank and Women on Board Pakistan (WOB) forum.

On behalf of the participating organizations, the 'Ring the Bell' Gong ceremony was performed by Jamshed Kazi of UN Women, Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan of WOB Pakistan, Ms. Sultana Siddiqui of Hum TV, Ms. Shazia Syed of Unilever Pakistan, Ms. Sabrina Dawood of Dawood Foundation and United Kingdom's Deputy High Commissioner to Karachi Ms. Elin Burns and two poor ladies from Tharparkar.

The Gong ceremony is also a symbolic activity to pronounce the opening of the market on special occasions like International Women's Day.

PSX's Chief Executive Officer, Richard Morin, in his welcome address, spoke on a better gender balance within the stock exchange.

On this day, he said, around fifty Stock Exchanges in the world held similar programmes to signify women contribution to social and economic uplift, and to promote gender equality.

He said that in Pakistan there were many talented women contributing a lot in the social and economic sectors. They should be placed on right positions to make best use of their talent.

He underlined the need for better working environment for women, where there is no harassment and disrespect to women-folk.

He assured that the PSX would have zero tolerance to harassment of women working there.

He also emphasized on developing a core of good female corporate executives so that they could command as competent board directors and other top leadership positions in Pakistan's listed or non-listed companies.

Chairperson, Women on Board Pakistan, Ms. Rahat Kaunain Nafees said more efforts and better policies were needed for women empowerment.

'We want women participation on merit and equality, not quota based,' she said.

The competent and professional women should be placed in Directors and other senior positions in the public interest companies; whether listed or not. There should be at least one-third ratio for women on the boards of public limited companies. Thus, she continued, not less than one thousand trained professional women were required.

Country Representative of UN Women, Jamshed Qazi said his organization was working to transform the life of women in Pakistan.

Stock Exchanges in the world were playing very active role in this regard.

PPP , Member of National Assembly, Ms. Shazia Sobia Aslam highlighted the leading role of women parliamentarians in legislation.

'I am also working on and pursuing passage of Women Empowerment Bill,' she added.