Pakistan is well blessed with world’s most talented women professionals and entrepreneurs and a silent knowledge revolution is underway in the country. This was stated by experts at a seminar-cum-networking session at the embassy residence of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Singapore with special reference to appointment of Ms Shamshad Akhter as Assistant UN Secretary General.
“Pakistan is blessed with world’s most talented women professionals and entrepreneurs who have now begun to create ripples in global mainstream,” High Commissioner Hasan Javed remarked mentioning to Shamshad Akhter as mentioned in a message received here from Singapore.
The appointment of Ms. Shamshad Akhtar as the Assistant UN Secretary General to deal with global financial crisis is just one among several testimonies to the awe-inspiring roles being played by Pakistan’s women, the ambassador said.
He said Pakistani female students are outperforming the boys over the past few years and women are acting as the catalyst of change’ in the society.
The event was attended by Pakistani female professionals and entrepreneurs, members of Singapore Council of Women Associations, representatives of individual companies and Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce.
The Seminar was also addressed by Shahid Javed Burki, former Vice President World Bank, Ms. Irene Boeg, a member of SCWO and Pakistani women entrepreneurs based in Singapore.
There are hundred Pakistani women professionals and entrepreneurs working in multinational banks, financial firms, trading houses, universities and hospitals in Singapore. Pakistani women entrepreneurs also run their own business in jewellery, handicrafts, fashion fabrics, real estate and interior decoration.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahid Javed Burki said that a silent knowledge revolution is underway in Pakistan that will lead the country to prosperity in the 21st Century.
Burki quoted a World Bank study reflecting the tremendous progress made in female higher education over the past 17 years in Pakistan.
He said female enrollment in professional colleges increased from 15,000 to half a million which is more than 2000 times.
Female medical graduates were 57 percent as compared to 43 percent males in 2011 and university enrollment is now equal for males and females. Ms. Irene, a representative of Singapore Council of Women Associations briefed about her organization and expressed happiness to work with Pakistani women professionals and entrepreneurs.
