Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) on Monday launched its maiden research report on Pakistani women working in the IT field, suggesting despite harassment-free environment at job places, females still feel gender discrimination. The P@SHA announced its first research findings titling "Women in IT", highlighting the problems of women working in IT sector, as the "exclusive research" contains replies from 50 various companies and 125 individuals.
Speaking at a press conference at a local hotel, President of P@SHA, Jehan Ara said "the P@SHA, as the IT industry representative organisation in Pakistan, undertook this research to understand the on-ground realities of women working in technology here." Chairman P@SHA, Nadeem Elahi and Research Associate at P@SHA, Nausheen Ishtiaq were also present on the occasion whom latter gave briefings about the research report evolution and the P@SHA working itself.
Jehan said the participation of women in the workforce had been shown to have positive effects on a nation's economy, adding that the P@SHA as the IT industry representative organisation in Pakistan had undertaken this research to know the on-ground realities of women working in technology.
She said the research was aimed at ascertaining the facts and statistics on women's participation in the IT sector and exploring their abilities to succeed in the field, besides factors affecting their professional growth. She hoped the research report would prove a first step towards making the working women role prominent in the certain field, saying the IT sector has opened up many opportunities for women."
Giving presentation on findings, Research Associate at P@SHA, Nausheen Ishtiaq told newsmen that the research was based on responses from 50 companies and 125 individuals. "It targeted IT companies as well as large IT departments within non-IT companies," she said.
The report indicates that women account for 14 percent of the IT workforce of which 37 percent are at the mid-career level while 13 percent are in senior management positions, she pointed out. In line with the findings, she said, they suggested that despite years of experience, a large proportion of the women had been unable to move beyond mid-level positions and called it a presence of the "infamous" glass ceiling.
The report, she said, gave another observation to the significantly low number of women who held more than seven years of work experience, saying social and family pressures caused them to quit their jobs or remain low-profile. She termed it the "leaky pipeline effect" brought about the women career retention.
Nausheen said that in the context of HR policies and practices, a majority of women were satisfied with their work environment, while paid maternity leave, flexible hours and emergency leave were the commonly offered benefits by companies. However, she said the findings also revealed that there were still some companies which failed to incorporate paid maternity leave and such other basic HR benefits to the women workers.
She said the research participants had complained about long hours duties which nearly alienated them in the society and recommended that women workers should be given flexible and shorter work timings, transportation and day-care facilities. She said the report also depicted a majority companies which had been polled, did not extend training and mentoring programs to their female employees, despite their proven effectiveness in enhancing the abilities of employees, adding that.
The Research Associate said that report suggested the working women were satisfied at their job-places for improved working conditions but had some feelings about gender bias, wanting reduction in discrimination. President P@SHA, Nadeem Elahi briefed the news media about the growth of Pakistan's IT industry despite domestic and international challenges.
He said the country's IT industry was generating around $2.8 billion in revenue (excluding the retail segment), making up 1.6 percent of the GDP. "Buoyed by improved policies and support, this figure could easily soar to $10 billion mark," he hoped. He said the P@SHA was the sole trade body representing Pakistan's IT industry at present with over 400 member companies. He said the associated members governed the body through an elected body known as the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of P@SHA.
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