Islamabad, October 30, 2014 –U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson joined a commemoration of the U.S. Pakistan Women’s Council’s (USPWC) second anniversary with prominent business and civil society leaders today in Islamabad. The event was linked via Skype to concurrent USPWC events in Karachi and in Washington, DC, where U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russell, American University President Neil Kerwin, and Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Jalil Jilani discussed women’s empowerment efforts in both Pakistan and the United States.
“The Council provides outstanding opportunities for companies in both countries to improve how they engage women in the workplace. Many companies are participating in Council activities, including internship, outreach, and mentoring programs. These programs are making a difference in how companies recruit, train, and retain women in the workplace,” said Ambassador Olson.
The USPWC was launched by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2012. The Council is a public-private partnership between the U.S. State Department and American University, supported by the Organization for Pakistani Entrepreneurs. The Council works with Pakistani and U.S. leaders in industry, academia, and civil society to increase economic opportunities for women, and focuses on promoting entrepreneurship, employment, and education.