The CA Women Committee of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan on Friday launched CA Women on Board Directory at Pakistan Stock Exchange, here at PSX.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of senior representatives of listed companies, council, past presidents and senior executives of ICAP, Board Directors of PSX, members of CA Women Committee and Regional Committee of ICAP and brokers.

The directory is a compilation of details of over 350 CA Women who are eligible for appointment as independent directors on the boards of public interest entities.

Ms.Hina Usmani, Vice President ICAP and Chairperson CA Women Committee expressed confidence that the directory will serve as a key source for corporates seeking professional and talented women on their boards.

She pointed out that companies with female directors on their boards showed better financial performance. The strong leadership skills demonstrated by CA Women were due to robust professional training, excellent education and examination systems.

She expressed her confidence that these professionals would add substantial value in organizational growth and profitability.

Appreciating the landmark step by Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan to include one woman on its board, she emphasized the need for inclusion of professional women within the criteria of independent director to encourage and draw benefit from the professional untapped talent.

Khalilullah Shaikh, President ICAP applauded the efforts of CA Women's Committee and termed the initiative of launching directory of CA Women as unique and truly commendable, and a testimony of the institute's unwavering commitment to public interest. He said CA profession was marked with achievements and legacies of many outstanding CA women who have served at C-Suite positions in their organizations due to their brilliance and continuous hard work.

Now, it is the time to welcome more and more women professionals on boards and adding their voices to business leadership in the world.

He reiterated ICAP's full support to SECP in all the initiatives of inclusion and corporate governance. Sulaiman S. Mehdi, Chairman PSX congratulated ICAP and particularly the CA Women Committee, on launch of CA Women on Board Directory 2020. He hailed the directory as vital source of information and a much needed support to listed companies in nominating independent women directors on their boards. These Chartered Accountants have the full potential to be directors in any public interest and public sector entities in Pakistan.

PSX's Acting Managing Director, Muhammad Rafique Umar said it was a big achievement on the part of lady Chartered Accountants to compile a directory of qualified women who were CAs and could be or were already board members of different companies.

He said PSX had been at forefront of recognizing the achievements and the capacities of women in the country who worked hard and delivered results on different positions in the corporate sector.

"We have an extremely talented and very able pool of women who are members of our board as well," he remarked adding that the inclusion of qualified and professional women on the boards of directors of listed companies was officially by SECP.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan