Danish ambassador, Indian High Commission delegates and Ausralian High Commissioner lauds Pakistan government’s woman empowerment initiatives, saying it will help improve the quality of life by reducing poverty in Pakistan.
Diplomats of three countries have lauded the Pakistani government’s women empowerment initiatives, saying that these steps have sent “very positive signals” around the world.
The foreign delegates were present at an iftar hosted by Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) President Samina Fazil.
Danish Ambassador Jesper Moller Sorensen, High Commission of India diplomats Rajesh Kumar Agnihotri and Shamshad Ansari, Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward, his wife Susan Heyward, Australian Trade Commission’s Azhar H Shah and FNF Resident Representative Dr Almut Besold were present at the occasion.
Sorensen said that empowering women will help improve the quality of life by reducing poverty in Pakistan. “We aim at strengthening entrepreneurial and technical skills of women so that they can become more competitive to become architects of their new lives,” he said.
We have just signed an agreement with UN Women to provide $1 million to improve the lives of women in conflict-hit areas, he said.
The Danish ambassador said that one year of additional education for a woman increases the income of a family by fifteen percent which benefits the family, community and the society, so “women empowerment has remained a prominent feature of our aid to Pakistan”.
INDIA OPENING UP TO PAKISTANI BUSINESSWOMEN:
Indian diplomats said that the Pakistani government’s focus on women empowerment is a positive sign. They said that visa difficulties faced by Pakistani businesswomen are being tackled on preference.
“Indian High Commission has been trying to forge linkages between IWCCI and other Pakistani women chambers with their Indian counterparts so that they can boost business to enhance their standard of living.”
Commerce ministers of SAARC countries will meet in Bhutan next week, which is in the interest of both India and Pakistan, as trade is the quickest way to ensure cordial relations, said Rajesh.
Shah said that Australia acknowledges the great potential of Pakistani women and will provide them every opportunity to gain financial independence.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice President Naima Ansari said that women should not focus on problems but solutions, try innovation and add value to products.
She said that the chamber will extend all out support to women so that they can become successful in life and businesses.
IWCCI President Fazil said, “We will leave no stone unturned to assist women,” adding that strengthening the economy is tied to contribution of women who are being provided guidelines and access to financial resources.
The present economic scenario calls for greater roles of women who constitute 52 percent of the population but are generally ignored, she said.
