February Issue 2011

LADIESFUND® Women of Influence Luncheon series was held for the first time, on January 8 at Acton House, Runnymede, in Karachi. It was attended by 100 powerful women who enjoyed the green lawns and beautiful flowers on a sunny afternoon at the British Deputy High Commissioner Robert Gibson’s residence. Hosts Mr Gibson and Uzra Dawood, CEO of Dawood Capital Management fund, mingled with the ‘women of influence,’ OUP head Ameena Saiyid, activist and artiste Sheema Kermani, designer Shamaeel Ansari, restaurateur Nilofer Saeed, gallery owner Sameera Raja and many others.

The LADIESFUND® initiative is aimed at improving the financial security of women in Pakistan by creating and encouraging entrepreneurship so that the country can benefit from the largely ignored and untapped potential of the female work force. The focus of this lunch was to consolidate support, but more importantly, to build relationships and engage in networking.

Uzra Dawood talked about the concept of “The Girl Effect” saying, “You give a woman opportunities and she will do the rest.”

Prior to the luncheon, chief guest Nasreen Jalil, former deputy Nazim of Karachi, was interviewed by Dr Ishrat Husain, former State Bank governor and current Dean and Director of IBA Karachi. The Q&A was both informative and engaging. The LADIESFUND® Magazine, Pakistan’s first publication dedicated to the advancement of women professionals and entrepreneurs, was also launched on the occasion.