RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Registrations for Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB)’s Grand Herself Women Convention (HWC) is open for all those who intend to participate in this first of its kind event, being held on July 8, 2017 at Arfa Software Technology Park, Lahore. Registration can be made free of cost on website: www.hwc.pitb.gov.pk.

The day-long event is being organized on the 1st anniversary of the women empowerment initiative of Punjab IT Board –‘Herself’ driven by Dr. Umar Saif, the founding Vice Chancellor of Information Technology University Punjab (ITU), Chairman PITB and Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab.

Dr. Umar Saif said, “At Punjab Information Technology Board, 60% of our workforce is women. ‘Herself Women Convention’ is PITB’s way of showcasing and celebrating not just the women of PITB but women of this entire country, Pakistan. “This grand convention revolves around the theme ‘Steps towards a progressive nation’ focusing on breaking stereotypes of women heroes.

Nabeel A. Qadeer (Director Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development, Punjab IT Board) head of entrepreneurship wing says: “I want to thank Facebook for their support in our journey so far. The vision of ‘Herself’ is to increase women entrepreneurs, freelancers, women participation in the workforce and revamp the definition of heroes; HWC is just one glimpse of what we plan to achieve through this platform.” It is also the only women’s initiative to have partnered with Facebook’s #SheMeans Business, which shares stories of successful women on their global website.

Facebook, being the official partners for this event, shall be pooling in their best human resource all the way from Facebook Head Quarters to conduct activities and competitions at the convention for women in Pakistan to benefit from.

The day-long event promises to bring you various exciting sessions, panel discussions featuring significant names in the industry including Seema Aziz, owner of the Bareeze and the only woman from Pakistan listed in Forbes 500, Dr. Amjad Saqib, Founder and Executive Director of Akhuwat, Zainab Abbas, the famous ‘selfiekawaar’ sports journalist, Ms. Bushra Aman, Secretary Women Development Department, Fizza Farhan, Global Development Advisor / Member - UN HLP, Rafia Qasim Baig, the brave soul - Asia’s first woman bomb disposal squadron and Samar Khan the first women in the world to ride cycle on the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan.