Islamabad, 28 January 2008 - The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) met with Barrister Shahida Jamil, Minister for Women's Development, Social Welfare and Special Education today.

Arthur Bayhan, Chief Executive Officer of the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), briefed the Minister on the activities of the Competitiveness Support Fund and Pakistan's ranking on the Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum. Pakistan ranked at 126 among 128 countries

"Pakistan needs to update and timely submit the data on issues relevant to the economic empowerment of gender to international sources. It is crucial for Pakistan to reflect achievements made in the last few years, to improve Pakistan's ranking on the Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum.

Arthur Bayhan also informed the Minister that although Pakistan is doing well on the Political Empowerment of Women, where it stands at 43 among 128 countries, the indicators on Economic Participation and Opportunity for Women are still weak, where Pakistan stands at 126. Also on the Labour Force Participation of Women, Pakistan ranked at 121 among 128 countries.

The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), a joint initiative of the Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is the partner institution of the World Economic Forum in Pakistan. CSF was launched in 2006 to reposition Pakistan's economy on a more competitive global footing.

Barrister Shahida Jamil asked the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) to assist the Ministry of Women Development in identifying policy initiatives and projects, which could contribute to increasing national competitiveness, while empowering women.

To improve the quality of gender data available for Pakistan, the Minister urged CSF to help the Ministry in creating linkages with international sources relevant to women issues, such as OECD's Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base, United Nations' Statistics Division, World Health Organization, UNESCO's Institute of Statistics and the World Bank's World Development Indicators etc.

The Minister also assured CSF, that the Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education will be working closely with the Competitiveness Support Fund on its upcoming State of Pakistan's Competitiveness Report 2008. CSF will be launching the State of Pakistan's Competitiveness Report 2008 in March 2008 with a special section on gender issues in Pakistan.

The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) will include a chapter on gender in the State of Pakistan's Competitiveness Report 2008, which will identify the gender gaps affecting competiveness in Pakistan, especially the areas identified by the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 and the Global Gender Gap Report 2007.

The Global Gender Gap Report provides a comprehensible framework for assessing and comparing global gender gaps and by revealing those countries that, regardless of the overall level of resources available, are role models in dividing these resources equitably between women and men. CSF is working with the WEF to assist the Government of Pakistan as a catalyst for greater awareness as well as greater exchange between policy-makers.

The State of Pakistan's Competitiveness Report 2008 will provide a framework for capturing the magnitude of gender-based disparities. It will also provide explanations for policy-makers and business leaders in seeking solutions for talent shortages and how to close gender gaps and leverage the talents of both women and men.

CSF supports Pakistan's goal of a more competitive economy by providing input into policy decisions, working to improve regulatory and administrative frameworks and enhancing public-private partnerships within the country. CSF also provides technical assistance and co-financing for initiatives related to entrepreneurship, business incubators and private-sector-led initiatives with research institutes and universities that contribute to creating a knowledge-driven economy.

Support for CSF is part of the $1.5 billion in aid that the U.S. Government is providing to Pakistan over five years to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance.