Women in the boardroom
TALENT is one of the most essential factors for growth and competitiveness,` writes Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in the Global Gender Gap Report 2017. `To build future economies that are both dynamic and inclusive, we must ensure that everyone has equal opportunity. When women and girls are not integrated as both beneficiary and shaper the global community loses out on skills, ideas and perspectives that are critical for addressing global challenges and harnessing new opportunities.
Pakistan is ranked 143rd on the WEF index, and remains the lowest-ranked country in South Asia and the second to last overall. The index measures gender gaps in four areas economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment to rank the 144 countries.
The index shows Pakistan still has a lot to do to integrate women and girls as both beneficiary and shaper of the economy. But it has recently made a major step towards closing the gender gap in the corporate boardrooms to make them more inclusive and diverse.