Jan 13 , 2016
News
Panel discussions on opportunities for women in IT
LAHORE – Speakers at a seminar organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society (MKRMS) in collaboration with Sanjh Preet Organisation and USAID Pakistan on Enhancing Employability of Women Graduates in Information Technology (IT) Sector called for the inclusion of more women in the growing information technology sector of Pakistan.
The seminar at a local hotel on Tuesday was presided over by chief guest Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana and Punjab Minister for Women Development Hameeda Waheed-ud-din.
Speakers at the event included Punjab University College of Information Technology (PUCIT) Principal Dr Syed Mansoor Sarwar, Chairperson of Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Fauzia Viqar, Director of Programmes at Sanjh Preet Pervaiz Akhtar, Qazi Afaq Hussain, Waseem Ashraf, and Muhammad Usman Khan.
On this occasion, PUCIT Principal Dr Syed Mansoor Sarwar said that the College has become major IT professional producing institution to meet the ever-increasing need of PhD faculty in computer science and IT. He said that the PUCIT has 30 per cent girls’ students in Computer Science education, adding that highest ratio of girls as compare to the others IT college and universities. He further said that the faculty of women in PUCIT was not less than 30 per cent.
The noted speakers including the governor observed that even though women constitute 51 per cent of Pakistan’s population, only 14 per cent of them work in information technology jobs. Women have made numerous strides in other male-dominated workplaces but the IT sector is still to recognise and benefit from their skills and talents, they remarked.
They urged the government to take measures to increase awareness of the developing sector amongst women enrolled in different colleges and universities. Private companies were also appealed to in order to rectify the gap in women’s employment.
It is important to make women financially independent and productive members of society, Women Development Hameeda Waheed-ud-din commented. Speakers said that women could play a crucial role in the economic development of Pakistan and more efforts need to be made to place them in decision-making positions.
They appreciated the work of the Punjab government and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to increase the number of women serving in government jobs under the Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act and other measures under the Punjab Women Empowerment packages.
Director of programmes at Sanjh Preet Organization detailed the organisation’s work in collaboration with USAID Pakistan for empowerment of women in the IT sector.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk