KARACHI: Pakistani tech entrepreneur, Jehan Ara, has received an invitation from the White House to speak at Stanford University for the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2016 (GES), according to a post on her organization's Twitter profile.

Jehan Ara heads Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITES (P@sha). a trade body and a registered association, founded in 1992, to promote and develop the software and services industry in Pakistan.

Ara was invited on behalf of President Obama, and will participate as a speaker in a panel discussion for ‘Investing in South Asia: What’s next for Entrepreneruship in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh’.

Jehan Ara heads P@SHA and its tech incubator 'The Nest I/O', which provides budding entrepreneurs with space, infrastructure, facilities and knowledge sessions as well as access to a network of mentors and potential investors.

Cyber crime, privacy and data protection legislation are some of the topics she is advocating for. She is currently also part of an initiative called Bolo Bhi, an organization focusing on research backed advocacy.

In addition to her role as president for the industry's association, she is working on an initiative known as the 'Women’s Virtual Network' which will connect educated women with potential employers, mentors and peers remotely, thus bringing more women into the economic fold and creating a community that will evolve into a support network for professional women.

About GES 2016

GES 2016. according to its website, aims to showcase inspiring entrepreneurs and investors from around the world creating new opportunities for investment, partnership, and collaboration; connect American entrepreneurs and investors with international counterparts to form lasting relationships; and highlight entrepreneurship as means to address global challenges.

The summit will include a wide range of workshops, panels, ignite talks, pitch competitions, mentoring, and networking sessions aimed to give participants tailored opportunities to gain skill and relationships that will help their ventures grow. Within the summit there will also be demonstration areas, experiential learning exhibitions, and opportunities to connect with industry experts.