The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Planning and Design, Syed Mustafain Kazmi has said that burden of poverty on women must be reduced to ensure their empowerment which will trigger national development.
The country could only progress if women were not neglected and their empowerment was of paramount importance in this regard, he said.
He stated this while talking to women entrepreneurs representing Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) and Abbottabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI).
IWCCI Founder President, Samina Fazil, IWCCI President, Farida Rashid, AWCCI President, Firdosia Fazal, IWCCI Adviser, Malik Sohail and other officials and members of both chambers were also present on the occasion.
Mustafain Kazmi said that the CDA Chairman, Syed Tahir Shahbaz was very keen to promote women, particularly businesswomen for which he had formed a high-powered committee which would propose steps to achieve the goal of gender equality and women empowerment.
He said that the CDA would give preferential treatment, concession and free services to women where possible as the present government was committed in creating a congenial environment for masses, business community and for women in particular.
Mustafain said that meaningful and sustainable economic development should involve all citizens as economic growth could guarantee social harmony and prosperity.
He said that poverty alleviation strategies were the central part of the overall national development initiatives.
On the occasion, Samina said that the women were a catalyst for change if the objective of eradicating poverty was to be attained. Farida said that policymakers should design development interventions in a way that could financially empower women to make a difference in their living conditions.
Malik Sohail, who is also Chairman Media FPCCI, said that in a globalized world a level playing field for men and women was imperative. We need to explore innovative ways to overcome the obstacles to empower women and ensure gender equality, he said.
