Embassy of the United States

Press Releases 2007

U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson addressing a group of working women at a networking event organized by the U.S. Federal Women’s Program at the residence of the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday.

Ambassador Patterson Urges Stronger Bonds Among Women To Build Bridges Of Understanding

Islamabad - U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson has underlined the need for creating stronger bonds between the women of Pakistan and the international community “to build bridges of understanding.”

She was speaking on “women in the workplace” at a networking event organized by the Federal Women’s Program at the U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission’s residence here Tuesday. Over sixty women representing a range of professional backgrounds gathered to network and socialize with women in the Islamabad community.

“Women are natural networkers, who understand the importance of supporting one another. Theses bonds reinforce our common goals, values, and ideas: caring for our families, contributing towards our nations’ development, and growing our own leadership skills and careers,” Ambassador Patterson said.

The Ambassador said that in the U.S. women are serving in greater numbers and at higher levels in the federal government than ever before. President Bush recognizes talented women and appointed the first female Secretary of the Interior, the first African-American woman to the position of Secretary of State, and the first Asian-American woman to a Cabinet position, she added.

“Less than 30 years ago, only about 100 women were serving in senior federal government positions. Today, over 4000 American women are serving at the highest level of the U.S. government,” the American diplomat said.

Ambassador Patterson said that women make up less than twenty per cent of Pakistan’s formal workforce and that the national literacy rate for women is only thirty-two per cent. “I am eager to learn how we can help improve the welfare of women in Pakistan,” she remarked.

This is the third networking event sponsored by the US Embassy’s Federal Women’s Program (FWP). These events offer an informal way for professional women to get to know one another, build ties between countries, and to offer support and mentorship to women they may not have met otherwise.

The networking events also served as a venue to raise awareness of women’s development issues in Pakistan. Participants included foreign and local government officials, journalists, professors, NGO officers, as well as students, artists and entrepreneurs.

“The success and popularity of these networking events are a direct credit to the women who participate in them. The Federal Women’s Program will continue to host these professional and social opportunities because of the community’s overwhelming interest in them,” commented FWP co-coordinator, Carol Hanlon.

The Federal Women’s Program is a world-wide network founded in 1963 to promote career opportunities and advancement for American women employed by the federal government. Branches of this program exist everywhere, from small towns across the United States to US Embassies around the world.