After two successful networking events engaging hundreds of business women and leaders in Brazil and Egypt, NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA)’s ‘Sharjah Welcomes You’ platform was extended to more than 60 Pakistani businessmen and women, diplomats, and experts in women’s development recently.

Speakers from NAMA and its affiliates also highlighted the comprehensive approach adopted by Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of NAMA, for the advancement of women in various sectors.

The event was attended by Mr. Abdul Aziz Al Neyadi, Charge d’ Affairs of UAE Embassy in Islamabad, Zartaj Gul, Minister of State for Climate Change; HE Sitara Ayaz, Member of the Senate of Pakistan; Ms. Shandana Gulzar Khan, The Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce in Pakistan; HE Erum Mazher Alvie, Senior Advisor in the Executive Office of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi; HE Reem BinKaram, Director of NAMA; Sheikha Hind bint Majed Al Qassimi, Chairperson of SBWC; Rizwan Beyg, Pakistani fashion designer; and a host of Pakistani media professionals.

Since the early 1970s, Emirati and Pakistani relations have seen continuous and expressive growth. A new phase of collaboration in recent times has been heralded by recent bilateral visits most recently by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan. In 2017, the Sharjah Ruler received Muazzam Ahmed Khan, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to discuss areas of cooperation and exchange.

“According to UN Women, 49 countries lack laws that protect women from domestic violence. Women also do 2.6 times more unpaid care and domestic work than men. We are working hard to change these realities with our key partners, which include UN Women, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), UNHCR, Education for Employment (EFE), and several others,” BinKaram stated.

“Woman’s education, health and safety, and their right to education and sustainable income are global concerns, which can only be tackled through strong global partnerships and sharing of knowledge and expertise. That is why such networking events and our visit to Islamabad is so important – the first of many we hope.”

The NAMA Director also invited the forum’s participants to the second edition of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Summit (WEEGS), which will be organised in Sharjah on December 10-11, 2019, in collaboration with UN Women.

The NAMA delegation also met with the ASR Institute of Women’s Studies in Lahore, and visited the National University of Sciences and Technology to explore areas of cooperation, especially in the STEM fields.