Ambassador of Germany Bernhard Schlagheck and Ambassador of France Dr Marc Baréty hosted a lunch to mark International Women’s Day at the German embassy.

The guests were renowned female journalists including some of the 2019 Agahi Foundation laureates, recognised in fields such as media ethics, human rights, entrepreneurship, identity and sports reporting.

The ambassadors stressed that the role of women in society is essential – not only from a social but also from an economic point of view. Like in other countries of the world, the gender gap in Pakistan should be reduced and eventually bridged.

The discussion centred on the vital role that journalism plays in every democratic society and to exchange views on the challenges it is facing today such as corporate transformation processes and media regulations, and guaranteeing safe, ethical and independent journalism.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2020