The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has demanded a comprehensive package for rapid development of women entrepreneurs in the upcoming budget, terming it imperative for progress and prosperity of the country.
FPCCI President Abdul Rauf Alam said that women make 51 per cent of the population therefore they must be included in the national mainstream without any delay. Rapid progress will be a pipedream otherwise, he said.
Alam said this while speaking to members of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) led by its President Samina Fazil. FPCCI Vice President Sajida Zulfiqar was also present on the occasion.
Alam said that women were not given any special relaxations in the last budget therefore the government should consider facilitating them in the upcoming budget.
Lauding the women empowerment initiatives by the government, he said that the role of women chambers in the development of women cannot be denied.
The FPCCI president said that government is taking significant steps to empower women which is a prerequisite for the national development and that the apex chamber will support all such moves.
He said that expos organised by different women chambers are very useful events which must be supported by the business community to express their commitment to strengthen the women.
Alam added that the expos are a good tool to empower women and that they would be not treated fairly unless they become economically strengthened and independent.
Business community should support women entrepreneurs, strive to end gender discrimination and mobilise the collective strength of women to turn the fate of this country around, he said.
He said that FPCCI wants active participation of the private sector to boost capacity of the women to ensure good future for our next generations.
Speaking on the occasion, Samina Fazil and Sajida Zulfiqar lauded the initiatives of the government to empower women saying that lot more is to be done to invest in women development.
They said that women are still more likely to be poor and illiterate with little access to medical care, property ownership, credit, training and employment.
