Women's participation crucial for socio-economic development: Dr Ayesha

Provincial Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has termed the women participation in mainstream economy crucial for overall socio-economic uplift of Pakistan. "Almost half of population of Pakistan consists of women, so the country's progress cannot be achieved without empowering them," the minister said while addressing a workshop held here on Thursday. She said Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is one of the effective ways to enable women folks to make their future prosperous.
The workshop was organized by the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the TVET Sector Support Programme which is funded by the European Union and governments of Germany and Norway. The TVET Sector Support Programme implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in close collaboration with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) as well as provincial Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities (TEVTAs).
The programme promotes women's effective participation at all levels and advocate maximum opportunities within the TVET sector for their better employment. The programme also undertakes multiple interventions to enhance the use of enabling technology for accessing labor and economic market through multiple measures.
A large number of businesswomen, leading industrialists, senior government officials and representatives of the civil society attended the workshop. Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman Technical and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Punjab Irfan Qaiser Shaikh said that training under latest trades is enabling women to have access to better learning and employment opportunities.
"The gender equality and uneven economic opportunities for women in the TVET sector are some of the challenges that country is currently facing through," he said, adding that improved participation in decision making and increased access to the training and learning opportunities may help in mitigating these challenges. He said availability of relevant skills and trades through skill-building and competencies and employment prospects may instill a trend of better economic growth for women on the rural and urban level.
Secretary Industries, Commerce and Investment, Government of Punjab, Mujtaba Paracha opined that the collaboration among chambers, business and industry associations and training providers can promote the women participation in the overall economy of the province.