U.S. - Pakistan Women’s Council
Fact Sheet
The U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council seeks to increase women's economic participation in Pakistan
through entrepreneurship, employment and education focused on high potential, underprivileged
women in the rising middle class. Established in 2012, the Council is a public-private partnership led by the
U.S. State Department and American University in cooperation with Pakistan's U.S. diaspora. The Council
coordinates pilot efforts within its network to multiply impacts and achieve a demonstration effect. Recent
developments follow.
Entrepreneurship
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December 2015 – The Islamabad WECREATE/Pakistan women's entrepreneurship center opened in
February with the aim of launching up to 500 new start-ups by 2018. Thus far, the center has recruited
and trained 46 successful business mentors and has provided training and other support for 110 existing
women's businesses. 38 startups were launched, creating 400 new jobs. Overall, over 4,000 women
have participated in a wide range of expert trainings, information sessions, showcases, competitions and
campaigns, with another 11,000 people reached via Face book.
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October 2015 – The Pakistan Women Entrepreneurs Program (PWEP) is managed through a
partnership between American University and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
The first certificate course completed in October will be followed by mentoring, intensive leadership
and team building training in order to sharpen skills, build confidence, and ensure success. Through
these programs, 60 women entrepreneurs and business leaders will have received tailored assistance to
help scale up their businesses by April 2016.
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September 2015 – In April and September, commercial and trade law experts from the U.S. Department
of Commerce conducted Council co-sponsored business and trade capacity building with Pakistani and
Afghan women entrepreneurs at the WECREATE/Pakistan center. Such activities support objectives
in the 2014 bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment.
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March 2015 – The Council seeks to help women's businesses locate sustainable markets and capacity
building opportunities. In March, local private sector members and experts joined Council roundtables
and meetings in Islamabad and Karachi to discuss corporate supply chain contracting opportunities.
Influential business associations and companies are now exploring possible supplier diversity pilot
efforts, with Council follow up planned for January 2016.
Employment
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March 2015 – The Council promotes public and private sector employment for women in Pakistan
through information-sharing about strategies and opportunities. In March, local partners and experts
joined Council roundtables and meetings in Islamabad and Karachi to discuss increasing the number of
women hired by corporations, as well as retention and re-entry programs and upward advancement.
Business associations and companies now plan to explore ways in which to widen qualified female
candidate pools via the Council's broader network, including the 15,000 strong Pakistan-U.S. Alumni
Network (PUAN), containing talent from every sector and many of Pakistan's most promising young
women. Council follow up is planned for January 2016.
Updated December 2015
Education and Training
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2015 – The U.S. Summer Sisters program enables underprivileged Pakistani high school girls to explore
education and career options and strategies. American University, Babson College, Barnard College,
George Washington University, Harvard University, Smith College and the Eleanor Roosevelt
leadership Center at Vassar College have provided scholarships. Citing how Pakistani Summer Sisters
have enriched their programs, five of these institutions doubled the number of scholarships offered for
2015 and all will continue their participation in 2016. In 2016, four new universities -- Georgetown,
Johns Hopkins and Washington University in St. Louis will join. The program nearly doubled in size as
it became part of the U.S. Let Girls Learn global initiative in October 2015.
“Before this experience, I wanted to be a chartered accountant; but now I want to start my own business, so I may be
able to provide job opportunities for women. In this way they may be able to become a part of our society in a true sense.”
– Summer Sister participant
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August 2015 – A pilot summer internship program, established in cooperation with the Council in 2014
by Packages Limited of Lahore, completed hands on training for women interns. The program has
helped over 60 women college students pursue careers ranging from finance and engineering to business
administration, and will now provide 40 women with targeted, practical experience on an annual basis.
Key Events

October 2015 – President Obama and Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the Council's work during
strategic dialogue talks. At an event with the Prime Minister, the Council welcomed the Coca Cola
Company, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and the Pakistani company Engro as its first corporate
members. January meetings with the Executive Director and Council team in Pakistan will be used to
coordinate on mutual commitments, and to recruit additional companies as members or cooperators.

June 2015 – The Council's Executive Committee reviewed achievements and approved a new Strategic
Plan and operational guidelines that reflected consultations with over 200 stakeholders in both
countries. The Strategic Plan represents a consensus among diverse Council members around priorities,
and introduces performance metrics designed to spotlight impacts and accelerate momentum.
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March 2015 – The Council's Executive Director traveled to Islamabad and Karachi to lead consultations
with support by the Pakistani and U.S. Diplomatic Missions and by Friends of the Council. Corporate
executives and managers, entrepreneurs, education experts, government representatives, business
advocacy groups, donors and business association heads informed and affirmed Council strategy and
implementation plans during roundtable discussions. The Executive Director also participated in a
Business Opportunities Conference plenary panel on women’s entrepreneurship, and in bilateral trade
and investment talks, where 2014 MOU on Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment
implementation was discussed.
How You Can Help
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Become a Member: The Council includes companies and organizations that promote economic opportunities for women in Pakistan.
Support Entrepreneurship: Offer mentoring, training or supply chain opportunities.
Expand Employment: Widen the candidate pool by sharing information and opportunities through our network and offer internships.
Promote Higher Education: Through support for Summer Sisters and other programs.
Visit us: www.facebook.com/uspakistanwomenscouncil www.american.edu/sis/us-pakistanwomenscouncil
In the United States, contact: Executive Director Melanie Bixby (bixby@american.edu) and Program Coordinator Samssa Ali
(Sali@american.edu). In Pakistan, contact: Country Coordinator Jackie Brock (brockjl@state.gov) cc: Samssa Ali
Updated December 2015