International Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment but also to critically reflect on those accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide. It is a day to recognize the extraordinary acts of women and to stand together, as a united force, to advance gender equality around the world.

Commonwealth Businesswomen Network and the students of CEP program (event management) of Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture with the help and guidance of Ms.Eram Masood, organized a session on “Educate and Empower women” because there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and #pressforprogress with global activism for women`s equality.

The session was held at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture on 21st March 2018 which was attended by students, celebrities, press, media and many strong women who have become a living example for others.

The program started with a pleasing message of Mr.Arif Zaman (Executive Director – Commonwealth Businesswomen Network) and the beautiful and encouraging words of the moderator Ms.Erum Masood who highlighted the importance of Gender Equality and mentioned the facts and figures of the working women and their success in Pakistan.

The session was embellished with a group of panelists which included Irum Afzal Tahir (CEO-VTV), Qudsia Kareem (Head of Content-Team NJ Media), Fatima Ali (SVP-Samba Bank) , Rafay Rashidi (Film Director) and Faraz Khan (CEO- Seed Ventures).

The panelists shared their experiences and enlightened the audience with their success stories. “We have started an NGO for students who cannot pay for their school fees. And all the work done in this NGO is by women” – said Qudsia Kareem.

The young and energetic film director Rafay Rashidi shared his views about women empowerment. “I have always seen my mother Mehtab Akbar Rashidi, as my mentor and I have taken her legacy forward. For me, every woman is strong and predominant. I have 2 daughters, my bosses are women and I have witnessed how strong a woman can be even if it is at work or home.”

“I have witnessed physical and verbal abuse for women in my neighborhood at a very young age, the woman was a mother and a home-maker and her husband used to hit her with every manly power he had but she never complained and that was when I realized the true power and potential of a woman” said Faraz Khan.

The women empowerment was evidently shown in the session as most of the guests and panelists were the dynamic women who not only excel their work and head their respective fields but they are also a role model and a mentor for many young individual women.

“We have started our online business and now running it successfully. We teach women about work ethics and try to help them as much as we can. Today we are one of the leading online herbal products brand” said Ischel Newton who is the Business Director of Pansari.

Pansari is an online brand of herbal products which is running successfully all across Pakistan. They also presented their beautiful Gift Hampers to all the panelists and guests.

Jazza foods (pvt) ltd. By Junaid Jamshed, MOCCA, and Almas Jewellers presented their gift hampers to the panelists and guests.

The director of CEP program at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Mr.Rasheed Noorani shared his views about women empowerment as well.

The session ended with an interactive question and answer session with the audience and it was followed by Hi-tea. Press and media covered the session thoroughly and it was covered live on the facebook page of “Arsh Events”.

It was a delightful evening spent well with the guests with all the networking and get together with so many energetic and wonderful women.