Dawood Global Foundation held the 7th LADIESFUND Sustainability Luncheon at British Deputy High Commission Karachi where corporates and businesses were awarded for their commitment to UNSDG and women businesses trained in aligning with UNSDG, with trainers and speakers from UNIDO and UNDP including Peter Hurst from the UK, Qasar Wasique Ahmad from UNIDO Pakistan, and Rida Amjad Mirza and Hameeda Kaleem from UNDP. Some businesses awarded included National Foods, HOM, EY, Glow & Lovely, Toni & Guy, and training was done of women professionals, SMEs, home chefs, and a handful of rural women. 10 LADIESFUND Women of Inspiration 2023 were also awarded and then mentored the guests. These women included Nargis Rehman, Sharmila Farooqui, Shaniera Akram, Dr. Ishrat Lindblad, Naz Khan, Hena Sadeq, Nighat Misbah, Dr. Mahnaz Shah, Niilofur Farrukh and Frieha Altaf.
LADIESFUND President Tara Uzra Dawood welcomed guests, saying, “LADIESFUND stands for women with economic power and voice and of course, impact and today we take that a step further strengthening that to sustainability and aligning women businesses and acknowledging corporates who are committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and in particular: UNSG Goal 5: Gender Equality.”
She said, “It has been forecasted that Pakistan will be one of the worst-affected countries due to climate change. We as a nation have been receptive to the UNSD Goals and have achieved several global expectations, with the support of our female population, which is nearly 50%!”
British Deputy High Commissioner Sarah Mooney then welcomed guests and spoke about how when she was a young girl, she was expected in school to learn how to iron a man’s shirt and she protected. She changed her school requirements and went on to be a incredible leader in her own right. “I wish you all a great afternoon and look forward to welcoming you all next year,” she said.
Peter Hurst, UNIDO Global expert and British Citizen, who arrived on the redeye, then gave a keynote speech, “Excited to speak at this very exciting LADIESFUND programme connecting to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Women empowerment and women equity we are very focused on in the Sindh province.” Hurst went on to meet with, train and mentor various women SMEs at this event.
UNDP gender experts Rida Amjad Mirza and Hameeda Kaleem then proceeded to do a training on UNSDG. They thereafter mentored women professional and entrepreneur tables. LADIESFUND UNSDG Specialist trainer Xenab F. Ansari took the attendees through the 17 goals as well as a detailed step-by-step plan of action. Her entire 2 day training was abridged for this lunch purposes but gave an overall flavour. Also present were Huma Khalid from IFC, Hira Wajahat Khan from Stimulus consultancy for the World Bank, as well.
Habib Oil Mills CEO Moid ul Hasan congratulated the LADIESFUND for another great event, saying, “We have been supporters for LADIESFUND for the last 13 years, including this annual lunch at the British.” Gold Sponsor National Foods’ Asma Ahmad, Head of Culture & Sustainability, said, “Thank you so much for being gracious hosts on Saturday at the LadiesFund Sustainability Luncheon. And congratulations on the wonderful turn out. I must appreciate your efforts in organizing talks by Peter Hurst from UNIDO and Rida Amjad from UNDP – both spoke about the very relevant topics of female education, climate, and food security and delivered their talks impeccably. Also meeting the panel of home chefs was inspiring!”
In the audience, there were 210 guests including Huma Khalid from IFC, Hira Wajahat Khan from Stimulus consultancy for the World Bank, Zeba Bakhtiar, Shamaeel Ansari, Dr. Huma Baqai, Jehan Ara, Nighat Misbah, Naureen Hyatt, et al.
Other awardees included Mobitising, Bombay Light House, Roots Millenium School, The Edvisory, HBL Asset Management, EY, Bombay Light House, Sam International and Womenpreneur. Other supporters of the event included Depilex, Enchante Silver, White Biryani, Hanif Rajput, Nestle, Salad Tox, Igloo, Cups N Cakes, Bakers Inn, Oriental Cake, Warm Delights, Herbamed, Delicacy, Sam Bakes, Maccaroon.
The funds generated from this event will be utilized towards the charitable efforts of DGF for women advancement with intended focus Educate a Girl trainings.
