ISLAMABAD: “Given the economic opportunities and social changes that Pakistan is faced with, the importance of equipping women with the right opportunities and resources through social enterprise is essential if we are to see Pakistan as a leading economy in the near future”, said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Mr Sartaj Aziz during his address at the launch of British Council’s report ‘Activist to entrepreneur: the role of social enterprise in supporting women empowerment in Pakistan’ here at Islamabad today.
He stated that entrepreneurship and social enterprise are being recognized as the central means to advancing women’s economic empowerment and social innovation. By setting up their own businesses, women can become economically independent, build up their assets, and increase their financial and household security.
Sartaj Aziz said that it is a great opportunity that international organizations such as the British Council and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) are collaborating to stimulate our social enterprise and social investment systems which will take us a step closer to fulfilling our commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
These SDGs are designed on three dimensions: economic, social and environmental; all three are interconnected.
“Contained in the DNA of social enterprises is the aim of balancing these three dimensions. We believe that social enterprise, social entrepreneurship and social investment can play a critical role in helping to deliver on this important agenda” he added.
He said that Pakistan has one of the largest youth population in the world, making up 40% of the total population with about 20% between the ages of 15 and 24 and added with concern that according to the latest reports, about 8.2% of the youth is unemployed whereas the situation for young women is even worse due to comparatively low literacy levels accompanied by fewer employment opportunities.
Millions of jobs around the world are expected to disappear due to automation so there is a dire need to cultivate a system of self-employment, which not only creates jobs but fuels overall economic activity.
The deputy chairman said that the first pillar of Vision 2025 is ‘putting people first’ and that the planning commission is heavily investing in growth strategies that ensure inclusive and sustainable economic development. In this regard, the commission established the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship in 2015 that promotes innovation and enterprise by serving as a specialist agency for the promotion of social entrepreneurship in Pakistan.
Mr Aziz said that it is also heartening to see the rise of incubators led by dynamic individuals and universities in Pakistan. The private sector will need to invest in Pakistan’s future human resource for their own and society’s benefit. While extending the planning commission’s support he said that the commission remains ready to work with incubators who are providing a helping hand to the country’s future entrepreneurship.
Mr Sartaj Aziz thanked United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary, Dr Shamshad Akhtar for the collaboration with the planning commission and the British Council. This collaboration will help in providing leadership, knowledge and the resources to female entrepreneurship.
