Shevolution, a women’s summit, brought together inspiring women from various fields, who shared their journeys, struggles and achievements, emphasising the need for gender inclusion, education and economic empowerment.
The day-long event was organised by the Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WCCI) Korangi in collaboration with the German mission in Pakistan at a hotel on Wednesday. WCCI Korangi Founder Sahibzadi Mahin Khan highlighted that Shevolution represents women’s journey towards empowerment. “Women need to have financial freedom and decision-making power. Our goal is to support and empower them to achieve that.”
She shared her personal journey from having a job to becoming an entrepreneur, and establishing a trade body. She said women entering the business world face numerous challenges, which motivated her to support and empower them.
She remarked that her goal was to help them in their journey so that they do not have to face the same obstacles that she herself had encountered. Learning Lab CEO Shabista Bakhtiar highlighted that Shevolution is an inspiration. “There are so many women who are breaking barriers and doing what none even thought of. So if they are doing it, why can’t other women?”
Speaking about her personal journey, Miss Universe Pakistan Erica Robin said: “I was just 16 years old when I started working. My first job was as a sales representative. I firmly believed in one thing that you have to start somewhere to become someone someday.”
She said she never lost sight of her goal to become a fashion model as she worked in a software firm at night so that she can have her fashion shoots during the day. Eventually, she became a full-time fashion model. Her hard work paid off when she availed an opportunity to appear in a beauty pageant, and was crowned Miss Universe Pakistan 2023.
She said her achievement turned into a nightmare because her country rejected her as the first ever Miss Universe Pakistan, and labelled her as “shameful”. Alkaram Studio COO Mehvish Waliany said she has certain reservations about having women-only forums. “Simply, the reason is that women should not be promoted through women-specific forums. Their success stories should be celebrated as a tribute to things they have achieved in spaces despite having the other gender out there as well. “A woman become a leader unless she is extremely lucky and connected. It would take her at least a decade and a half. In my case it took two decades to make it into a space where my voice is heard. Should we wait that long?”
She highlighted that women’s participation in the textile sector stands at 30 per cent. Almost half of Faisalabad’s total textile workforce of 1.3 million are women. She said that 78 per cent of the fashion textile designers are women. In the manufacturing sector, women represent 14 per cent, and in education 88 per cent representation is from women, she added.
Inclusion Lab Chief Inclusion Officer Sabahat Bokhari emphasised that gender inclusion is essential for achieving any goal, and that the world cannot progress without it. She stressed that women must be assured a place in the decision-making process, and that their voices matter.
Germany Embassy Economic & Political Affairs First Secretary Janine Rohwer drew parallels between the experiences of women in Germany and Pakistan. She noted that many of the rights enjoyed by women in Germany today were only secured in the last 75 years, and that the process of empowering women, or Shevolution, is still ongoing in Germany.
German Consul General Dr Rudiger Lotz said women have a long way to go not only in Pakistan but also in Germany. He said that no society can be successful if it excludes women from its ranks. He added that in the broader sense, it is education, and economic and financial independence that would empower women, as women display more responsibility than men.