Speakers for measures to achieve gender parity

Speakers at the International Women's Day conference called for concrete measures to achieve gender parity through gender balance leadership by developing more inclusive and flexible work culture by routing out workplace biases. International Women's Day Conference was organised by Employers' Federation of Pakistan (EFP) in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO), Asian Development Bank (ADB), UN Women and Global Compact Network Pakistan under the theme "Pledge for Parity", here on Tuesday.
Addressing the conference, chief guest Shamim Mumtaz, Member Sindh Assembly, highlighted the measures taken by the government for women empowerment in the province and called upon the stakeholders to play an active role in sensitising the society on issues of gender equality. She particularly emphasised on helping girls and women achieve their ambitions. "Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity," she added.
She said that women have always played a vital role in the development of the country and presently serving in all segment of the society and contributing toward the development of the country. Khawaja Muhammad Nauman, President EFP, in his address declared the total support of the Federation to its members and business community to enhance full potential of women in the workforce by embracing the principles of women empowerment, compliance with the protection of women against harassment at the workplace act and by taking gender streaming measures to develop a friendly and conducive work culture for women to work and grow in the organisation.
The Employers' Federation of Pakistan also recognised best practising companies in the area of women empowerment by conferring on them the EFP Award for Excellence in Women Empowerment 2016. The winning companies were First Women Bank and State Bank of Pakistan in the banking sector, Total Parco and Barrette Hodgson in the manufacturing/marketing sector, Epla Laboratories and Archroma Textile company in the SME sector, HRS Global and Karachi Marriott Hotel in the service sector and Jinnah University for Women and Institute of Business Management in the academia.
The conference was addressed by Tahira Raza, President/CEO First Women Bank, Dr Khalida Ghaus, Managing Director, Social Policy and Development Centre, Saghir Bukhari of ILO Islamabad. Uzma Altaf of Asian Development Bank, Mehwish Maria of UN Women, Ahsanullah Khan President Global Compact Network Pakistan, Dr Mustafa Suhag Director Labour Sindh, and Shaukat Ali President All Pakistan Trade Union Congress.
A very enthusiastic team of panellists comprising Aasim Tiwana, Director Policy Ministry of Commerce, Dr Professor Mustaghis-ur-Rahman of Bahria University, Dr Dilshad Zafar of Jinnah University for Women, Sadaffee Abid, Co-Founder of Circle Women, Gulfam Nabi Memon, Joint Director Labour, Sindh, Uzma Alkarim of GEO TV, Dr Lubna Mahmood of STEVTA, Muneeza Ahmed of Engro Corporation and Sq. Leader Shakeela Naz (Retd) participated in the panel discussion on the theme of "Pledge for Parity", which was moderated by Dr Shahida Sajjad, Director, EFP Board.
Panellists elaborated the role of women in the country's development and urged for a level playing field for the women. They urged the business concerns to take tangible measures to achieve gender parity through respecting and valuing gender differences. Without routing out workplace biases a more inclusive and flexible work culture will not be developed, they opined.