Speakers at the inaugural session of International Women's Day Conference called for empowering the women in order to achieve economic stability. They also called for eliminating violence and harassment in society through women empowerment.
The conference was organised by Employer Federation of Pakistan (EPF) in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO) under the theme of "Importance of Entrepreneurship Skills for Women in the Context of Pakistan" here at local hotel on Thursday.
Chief Guest of the event, Begum Salma Ahmed, Vice President FPCCI and SCWEC (SAARC) former MNA and founder President WCCI, shared her experiences with the participants that how she became what she was at present. She further said that if she can become the entrepreneur, why the other cannot do the same. "Women especially from urban areas should not be considered marginalized segment of the society, they have to come forward to achieve their goals," she stressed.
Salma Ahmed advised the women to contact her if they want to be entrepreneur. "I am always ready to welcome all those women who really want to take challenges," she said. Speaking as a key note speaker on the theme of the programme, Ghazal Khawaja Humayun Akhtar stated that women should come towards entrepreneurship. She said women in Pakistan represented 50 percent of the whole population. "Women should be allowed to actively participate in economic growth," she stressed, adding that entrepreneurial opportunities must be given to women in order to steer the country out of economic crisis.
Dr Shahida Sajjad, Managing Committee/Board Member, while talking about the women empowerment at global level stated that women should be free to work in any field of her choice without gender inequality barriers. She said that 70 percent women were living in adverse conditions and they all should come forward to support women and give them the confidence to support their families socially and financially.
Fasihul Karim Siddiqi, EFP Board member, shared his thoughts on the entrepreneurship skills for women. He asked them to become effective and hard working. Khalil-ur-Rehman, General Secretary, All Pakistan Federation of Labour while speaking on the occasion shared his thoughts about women participation in the labour force. On the occasion, K.M. Nauman, President Employers' Federation of Pakistan welcomed the guests and speakers of the conference in his address. He pointed towards the United Nations theme on International Women Day 2013, "A promise is a promise; time for action to end violence against women."
He further said that EFP had selected the theme for International Women's Day Conference titled "Importance of Entrepreneurship Skills for Women in the context of Pakistan." He further stated that the purpose to select the theme was due to the fact that some of the causes of violence against women were because they are not empower or mainly dependent on men especially in the context of Pakistan. He added that the women in Pakistan were facing gender inequality at workplace. Zaki Ahmed Khan, Vice President EFP, concluded the session by thanking the guests and speakers.
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