Pak businesswoman breaks new grounds in IT
Monday, 09 February 2004, 20:30 IST
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MUMBAI: No ambition is too lofty for this Pakistani IT businesswoman who has not only broken a predominantly male bastion but weathered all odds to emerge as cheerleader of the country's software sector. As the CEO of Enabling Technologies, a Karachi-based leading multi-media and website development companies, and president of the fledgling Pakistan Software House Association, Jehan Ara has made her mark in the Pakistani IT industry. Ara, who has worked in Hong Kong for several years, admits that women from the sub-continent have to deal with the "perception that women cannot do business" in all industrial sectors, and she was no exception. "Once you tackle the perception with determination, it is not difficult to do business," Ara, who was in India to take part in an IT industry summit, told IANS in an interview. "Initially, of course, people used to smile when I entered the business. But the smile gave way to respect once they knew that I meant business," she added. Ara said while she had to "go the extra mile" initially to scale heights as compared to her male compatriots, it had not been a very difficult journey for her in Pakistan's software industry. Little wonder then, within eight years, she went on to become executive member of the Pakistan Software House Association (PSHA) and earlier this year she was elevated to the rank of president of the industry body. "The members of PSHA saw my dedication towards the software industry and I was elected the president unanimously," said Ara. "It's not only me, but many women are joining the Pakistan software industry, especially in the design part and project management since women have eyes for details." The PSHA has 200 companies whose collective worth is around $50-100 million, tiny compared to India's booming software industry worth $12 billion, but, says Ara, the Pakistani IT sector will grow rapidly over the next few years. "We will grow. The country has huge potential and advantages like a good English-speaking talent pool, robust telecommunication network, low bandwidth rates, and growing number of well educated engineers," she said. On the possibility of forging closer links with the Indian IT industry, Ara said many PSHA members would be visiting Bangalore and Mumbai to explore business opportunities. "We are impressed by the maturity of the IT industry in India. The reason we have lagged behind is that we did not wake up early. But better late than never," says the technology entrepreneur. On the growing backlash in the West over outsourcing of jobs to low cost destinations like India, China and Pakistan, Ara said it was a temporary phase. "It is an election year in the US and politicians, be it in US or elsewhere, create issues. I do not think the backlash will continue. The corporations in the US realise the economics and benefits of outsourcing. "A section of public does not. But it is a matter of time before they also realise that such outsourcing will benefit their industry as well. We take jobs that need to be taken because of economic reasons." Ara is confident that compulsions of "good economics and business" would drive Indian and Pakistani governments to intensify business relations. "After the Islamabad visit of the Indian prime minister, the climate has changed. People on both sides want peace and want to do business. Both sides realise that it would be in their interest to forge strong business ties."
Source: IANS
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