KARACHI -

Business, Academia and Civil Society supported empowering of women to participate fully in economic life in all sector and levels of economic activity as an essential initiative for establishing a stable and just society in Pakistan as the Seven Principles of Women Empowerment under the theme “Equality Means Business “ were launched by Global Compact Pakistan and Employers Federation of Pakistan in an impressive ceremony at the North Nazimabad campus of the Newports Institute.
House of Habib vice chairman Sohail Ahmed in his key note speech on the eve of the launching of the principles of Women Empowerment emphasised that instead of putting women in jobs, business should be more family friendly for creating an environment in which women can freely think ,operate and contribute to business growth and sustainability.
Steering Committee president Ahsanullah Khan in his inaugural address said the launching of the seven principles of women empowerment in Pakistan aimed at helping the private sector to focuses on key elements integral to promoting gender equality at the work place, market place and community.
Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry advisor Dr Shahida Saleem the apex body of employers in Pakistan) said that empowerment is the sum total of means plus skills plus accountability and business in order to empower women must provide all the three to optimise from their potential to contribute to its meaningful growth. She assured full support of the FPCCI in helping private sector to play its pivotal role in embracing the principles of women empowerment.
Representing the Employers Federation of Pakistan Dr Shahida Sajjad quoted global instances of how business were benefiting themselves by empowering women. Companies have been able to achieve more than 30 percent profit due to women who genetically work with partnership, she said.
All Pakistan Trade Union Congress president Shaukat Ali urged for more induction of women in executive bodies of trade unions and more women representation at the enterprise level institutions which will create more viable opportunities for women empowerment.
Earlier, Local Network secretary Fasihul Karim Siddiqi introduced the Seven Principles of Women Empowerment as a partnership initiative by the UN Women and the UN Global Compact. These principles, he elaborated, in fact provide a seven step guideline for how a vibrant business environment can be created for deriving maximum benefit from equitable gender empowerment as a guarantee for sustainable growth.
Siddiqi called upon private and public sector business, government, workers and employer bodies, academia, media, judiciary, professional organisations and civil society to join hands in promoting these principles to strengthen our initiative to build a just, stable and socially responsive society in a better Pakistan.
Ms Tazeen Aman, CEO, Innovative Keys, Mirza Raza Ali, Director Newports Institute and Multiple Council Chairman of Lions Clubs International, Ms Khadija Soomro of Bardasht, a national NGO working for developing a more tolerant society, Mr Feroz Tabani an industrialist and local network Steering Committee member also addressed the launching ceremony which was largely attended by representatives of business, workers, academia and civil society.