Gender, work and society: ‘Women must play role in economy’

Participants discuss role of institutional reforms in gender-based violence

LAHORE: There is a dire need to strengthen women’s financial position and provide them with opportunities of economic participation.

This was stated during an international conference on Gender, Work and Society: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects for Women’s Economic Empowerment at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

The conference brought together a diverse range of perspectives from participants drawn from all over Pakistan and other countries. Some of the areas the conference deliberated over included the role of NGOs in bringing women’s issues to the fore, the significance of institutional reform to reduce gender-based violence, women’s economic position in the rural economy, opportunities and challenges of promoting entrepreneurship and workplace harassment.

Syed Babar Ali, noted philantrophist, industrialist and pro-chancellor of LUMS, expressed his desire to make gender equality a key indicator of success at LUMS. The varsity’s vice chancellor Dr Sohail Naqvi spoke about the levers of change and said there is a need to set in motion the increase of women’s economic participation.

Professor Edwina Pio from Auckland University, New Zealand and other international management scholars and economists shared their research at the conference. SDSB’s Dean Dr Jawad Syed brought his own insights on gender and diversity to the audience. The conference provided a platform for participants to analyse, critique and deconstruct recent trends, innovations and conditions related to gender, work and society.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2017.