Pakistan Stock Exchange appoints first woman chairperson

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) appointed Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, a former caretaker Finance Minister of Pakistan, as its first female chair on Wednesday.
A development economist and former central bank governor — also the first woman to assume this position — Akhtar previously served at the Asian Development Bank, was a senior adviser to the then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the World Bank’s vice president for the Middle East and North Africa. 
In 2008, The Wall Street Journal named her one of the top ten women leaders in Asia.
She was appointed the PSX chairperson by the exchange’s newly elected board of directors.
“This is a momentous occasion for the women of Pakistan that for the first time in the history of the capital market of the country, a woman has been elected as the Board Chairperson,” the PSX said in a statement.
“Dr. Shamshad Akhtar needs no introduction as she is a veteran of the financial markets of Pakistan,” the PSX said. “She spearheaded the capital market development reforms during her tenure at the Asian Development Bank in 1990s and more recently worked with the industry on the Capital Market Roadmap in her capacity as the Caretaker Finance Minister.” 
On her new role as the bourse’s chairperson, Akhtar said she looks forward to “further transform PSX as a premier institution so it can play a critical role in raising its market capitalization through deepening of debt and equity markets, broadening its investor and product base and service efficiently all its clients upholding high standards of governance.”
PSX chief executive Farrukh H. Khan welcomed Akhtar’s appointment: “We are particularly excited and proud to have someone of the caliber of Dr. Akhtar, to be the chairperson of PSX,” he said.
“Her understanding of capital markets and global experience will be invaluable in the development of capital markets and PSX. The fact that she is the first woman to chair PSX adds to our pride and excitement in welcoming her.”