President's Statement of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
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Prof. Dr. Saima Yasin
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My immense gratitude to the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) for providing educational and professional organization for the betterment of women engineers all around the globe. I was a student at Lahore College for Women 22 years ago as an Intermediate student, breaking all norms of my family to study Pre-Engineering and eventually take up Chemical Engineering at UET Lahore, earning PhD degree from Imperial College London, and becoming the first woman engineering professor and first chairperson of an engineering department in the 100-year history of the UET. It seems like yesterday but it required a lot of struggle and breaking of the stereotype. Being from a middle class conventional family, I have passed through many obstacles that we face as women. But, I believe that we can do and achieve whatever we want by with a dream, plan, and consistent hard work. There is a stereotype that engineering profession is a masculine profession. The women representation in STEM has been historically low worldwide, particularly in engineering education. It currently stands at 25 percent but, according to World Economic Forum, working women engineers form less than 5 percent of engineering workforce. The world is moving towards Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) for coping up with all the challenges the societies are facing. Now is the time of Techno-Economic War between the countries. Women can play their role in economic development of their country and can make a difference in the world. We can do it. So dream big, follow your dream with a plan and persistent hard-work, and never give up.
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Inaugural Ceremony of Punjab Affiliate Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
The inaugural ceremony of Punjab Affiliate Society of Women Engineers (SWE), USA, was held in Seminar Hall of Chemical Engineering Department. The event was a huge success as Women Engineers from several universities of Pakistan showed their keen interest in the event and around 250 engineers from different disciplines attended the event.
The proceedings started with national anthem and recitation of the Holy Quran. Founder President of Punjab Affiliate SWE, Prof. Dr. Saima Yasin, explained the need of the society for promoting harmony and association among women engineers and to provide them a platform to look up to for guidance and motivation through interactions with peers from across the globe. The moto of the society is to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity in the field of engineering.
She acknowledged the support of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Mansoor Sarwar, Dean faculty Chemical, Polymer, and Metallurgical Engineering (CPME), Prof Dr Naveed Ramzan, and campus coordinator KSK Prof. Dr. Tanveer Iqbal for their continuous encouragement, support, and guidance.
Prof. Dr. Naveed Ramzan acknowledged the hard work that women had already put in in the field of engineering to prove their mettle.
The guest of honour Ayesha Chaudhry discussed her struggles while pursuing engineering and technology related career at a time when the same was considered an alien field for women. She stressed that women should never consider themselves less in abilities than men and should keep striving to reach their full potential.
The guest of honour Engr Maryam Adnan, who became the first female SDO and first female XEN in the history of over 100 years of Punjab Communications and Works Department. She discussed the difficulties and setbacks she faced in the field and how she overcame them with her persistent hard work and relentless efforts. She advised the fellow engineers to push themselves to their limits and take on most challenging tasks to have maximum learning opportunities.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Neelun Naz briefly explained the struggles of the first female engineers in different departments of UET Lahore and encouraged fellow engineers to keep striving to excel in their fields.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Mansoor Sarwar conveyed the message of Chief guest, Prof Dr. Samreen Hussain, the first female engineer vice chancellor of Begum Nusrat Bhutto University, Sukkur. She advised the female engineers to have full faith in themselves and strive to be most competent in their fields.
Dr. Sarwar explained the radical steps he had taken for providing conducive workplace environment to female engineers at his previous work places to motivate them to maximum potential. He admired the hard work of Dr Saima in establishing the SWE chapter at the university.
The ceremony concluded with presentation of souvenirs to the guests of honour, founding President Punjab Affiliate SWE Prof. Dr. Saima Yasin and Saba Iqbal for being stage secretary, group photograph, and lunch.
She acknowledged the support of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Mansoor Sarwar, Dean faculty Chemical, Polymer, and Metallurgical Engineering (CPME), Prof Dr Naveed Ramzan, and campus coordinator KSK Prof. Dr. Tanveer Iqbal for their continuous encouragement, support, and guidance.
Prof. Dr. Naveed Ramzan acknowledged the hard work that women had already put in in the field of engineering to prove their mettle.
The guest of honour Ayesha Chaudhry discussed her struggles while pursuing engineering and technology related career at a time when the same was considered an alien field for women. She stressed that women should never consider themselves less in abilities than men and should keep striving to reach their full potential.
The guest of honour Engr Maryam Adnan, who became the first female SDO and first female XEN in the history of over 100 years of Punjab Communications and Works Department. She discussed the difficulties and setbacks she faced in the field and how she overcame them with her persistent hard work and relentless efforts. She advised the fellow engineers to push themselves to their limits and take on most challenging tasks to have maximum learning opportunities.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Neelun Naz briefly explained the struggles of the first female engineers in different departments of UET Lahore and encouraged fellow engineers to keep striving to excel in their fields.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Mansoor Sarwar conveyed the message of Chief guest, Prof Dr. Samreen Hussain, the first female engineer vice chancellor of Begum Nusrat Bhutto University, Sukkur. She advised the female engineers to have full faith in themselves and strive to be most competent in their fields.
Dr. Sarwar explained the radical steps he had taken for providing conducive workplace environment to female engineers at his previous work places to motivate them to maximum potential. He admired the hard work of Dr Saima in establishing the SWE chapter at the university.
The ceremony concluded with presentation of souvenirs to the guests of honour, founding President Punjab Affiliate SWE Prof. Dr. Saima Yasin and Saba Iqbal for being stage secretary, group photograph, and lunch.
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