American Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale joined Henna Babar Ali of Packages Limited and friends of the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council in celebrating the organization’s third anniversary. The Council, which promotes women’s economic participation in Pakistan through education, entrepreneurship, and employment, brings together experts in business and academia to develop opportunities for women and girls.
“I applaud the women of the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council and the many men who share their goals, for helping to create an enabling environment for women in the Pakistani economy, building bridges from schools to jobs, creating a women-friendly workforce, and helping women entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses,” Ambassador Hale said. “Coming from diverse backgrounds across Pakistan, together they form a powerful instrument for creating opportunities for greater women’s participation in the Pakistani economy.”
The reception included a series of presentations on women in business, economics, and education by representatives of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble; the Women’s Entrepreneurial Centers of Resources, Education, Access, and Training for Economic Empowerment (WECREATE) Center; the American University-Lahore University of Management Sciences Partnership, and others.
The U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State and American University, and was introduced by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the UN General Assembly in 2012. The Council supports study abroad opportunities for young women, including the annual Summer Sisters Exchange program, which sends high school and college women to participate in month-long intensive entrepreneurship, leadership, and science and engineering study programs throughout the United States. The Council also encourages continuing education for female entrepreneurs through hosting regular training sessions for businesswomen. In addition, the Council regularly brings together members of the private business community to discuss issues facing women in the economy.
For more information on the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council, and to learn about other opportunities, visit:
