Pakistani woman wins business leadership award

Islamabad: Ms. Noor Aftab, the Chair of Pakistan Women Economic Council (IWEC) and renowned businesswoman, was conferred the prestigious Australia Alumni Award for Business Leadership at an event organised here in Islamabad to honour the work of Australian Alumni in Pakistan.

The Australian high commission gave the award on the occasion of Australia Day in Spring Celebration. This year the title of the Australia Day celebration was Engaging Youth. The Federal Minister for Commerce was joined by New South Wales Parliamentarian, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, dignitaries, business leaders and Australian Alumni.

Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan joined High Commissioner of Australia Margaret Adamson at the event to honour Pakistani business woman Ms. Noor Aftab.

Noor’s award is a big step for Pakistan, which is struggling to achieve gender equality in the workplace. Pakistan ranks at 144 out of 145 in the Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum. ILO ranks Pakistan at the bottom for the number of women managers globally, putting the country at a rank of 108/108.

Speaking on the occasion, Noor Aftab said, “I am absolutely delighted to receive the award. Winning an award in the business category is a new chapter for women in Pakistan. It shows women are at par with men in all walks of life from sports to business.”

Noor, a graduate of the University of Curtin, Perth, has previously won the Woman Super Achiever Award by Asia Pacific HRM Congress in Bangalore, India on September 7, 2012. She was also conferred the International Outstanding Woman Award by Women Information Network at hundred years of women’s day on March 8, 2011. Noor has spoken in 13 countries and held prestigious positions in the corporate sector including Head of ACCA Islamabad and Project Coordinator, President of Pakistan Investment Initiatives at the Board of Investment, Government of Pakistan.