ISLAMABAD: Former State Bank of Pakistan governor and Karandaaz Board Chairperson Dr. Shamshad Akhtar Thursday said women entrepreneurship is the way forward for reducing poverty and bringing prosperity in the country.
She said Pakistani women today are more likely to participate in the labour force and decision-making and access health and education services, than their mothers and grandmothers.
Through women empowerment, “We can be made strong nation and country and also will produce sustainable economic growth in the country, she said this while addressing the women entrepreneur and award ceremony the honors of women led businesses organized by Karandaaz here.
Dr Shamshad Akhtar said women’s equality and empowerment is one of the Sustainable Development Goals and is integral to all dimensions of inclusive and sustainable development.
She said no development plan can be effective unless there is a focus on women empowerment.
Shamshad said commitment of all stakeholders such as policymakers, development partners and formal financial sector along with mobilization of sustained and responsive financing options are key for the economic empowerment of women.
She said, “I believe that initiatives such as the Karandaaz’s Women Entrepreneurships Challenge play an important role in highlighting and supporting the potential of women in Pakistan.” Renowned economist said according to UNDP Pakistan, there have been important advances in gender equality in Pakistan in recent years. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karandaaz Ali Sarfaraz said women entrepreneurship Challenge is now successfully entering its third year.
He said, “We will soon be opening the call for applications for the 2019 cohort.”
“We are very impressed with the quality of applications we received this year and are confident that there are many promising women entrepreneurs across Pakistan, who can benefit from this year’s program.”
United Kingdom (UK) Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Special Envoy for Gender Equality, Joanna Roper said the UK government is committed to promoting gender equality around the world. She said supporting women’s empowerment is critical to building stable and vibrant economies, and enabling women to reach their potential.
The UK-funded Karandaaz has signed investment agreements with seven women-led businesses to help women’s small and medium enterprises in Pakistan.
These include New Age Flour and General Mills, Web Work Solution, M-Tex, Lel, Noha Global, Kamal Impex and Saira Rizwan.
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