7th LADIESFUND Sustainability Luncheon

LADIESFUND is Pakistan’s leading platform for urban women professionals and SME entrepreneurs with over 12,000 in its network.

Of late, Dawood Global Foundation (DGF) held the 7th LADIESFUND Sustainability Luncheon at British Deputy High Commission Karachi where corporates and businesses were awarded for their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) and women businesses trained in aligning with UNSDG, with trainers and speakers from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Some businesses awarded include National Foods, HOM, EY, Glow & Lovely, Toni & Guy, and training was done of women professionals, SMEs, home chefs, and a handful of rural women.  10 LADIESFUND Women of Inspiration 2023 were awarded to some well-known women including Nargis Rehman, Sharmila Farooqui, Shaniera Akram, Dr. Ishrat Lindblad, Naz Khan, Hena Sadeq, Nighat Misbah, Dr. Mahnaz Shah, Niilofur Farrukh and Frieha Altaf. Other awardees included Mobitising, Bombay Light House, Roots Millenium School, The Edvisory, Krel, HBL Asset Management, EY, Bombay Light House, Sam International and Womenpreneur. Other supporters of the event included Depilex, Enchante Silver, White Biryani, Hanif Rajput, Nestle, Salad Tox, Igloo, Cups N Cakes, Bakers Inn, Oriental Cake, Warm Delights, Herbamed, Delicacy, Sam Bakes, Maccaroon.

In her address, LADIESFUND President Tara Uzra Dawood said, “LADIESFUND stands for women with economic power and voice and of course, impact and today we take that a step further strengthening that to sustainability and aligning women businesses and acknowledging corporates who are committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and in particular: UNSG Goal 5: Gender Equality.”

British Deputy High Commissioner Sarah Mooney spoke about how when she was a young girl, she was expected in school to learn how to iron a man’s shirt and she protected. She changed her school requirements and went on to be an incredible leader in her own right. Peter Hurst, UNIDO Global expert and British Citizen, gave a keynote speech and said, “Women empowerment and women equity we are very focused on in the Sindh province.”

UNDP gender experts Rida Amjad Mirza and Hameeda Kaleem proceeded to do a training on UNSDG. They thereafter mentored women professional and entrepreneur tables. LADIESFUND UNSDG Specialist trainer Xenab F. Ansari took the attendees through the 17 goals as well as a detailed step-by-step plan of action.

The funds generated from this event will be utilized towards the charitable efforts of DGF for women advancement with intended focus Educate a Girl trainings.