'Over 10,000 women trained to start businesses'

Lady of Punjab Governor Begum Perveen Sarwar has said that since the establishment of "Hunar Gah", in rural areas the Punjab province in 2014, over 10,000 women has been trained who started their own small businesses.

She was speaking at a seminar on "Significance of Women Empowerment in Islamic System" organized by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI);s Standing Committee on Women Entrepreneur Development Resource Centre & Women Advocacy Forum at the Lahore Chamber here Thursday.

She briefed the participants about the undergoing projects including hepatitis control campaign across the province, installation of water filtration plants in different areas especially in hospitals. Every woman has skills and leadership qualities but to lack of unity and guidance in the right direction is hampering their economic growth. If we are united and move in right direction, we can achieve much more for our country and for ourselves as well, she said.

Begum Governor said that all segments of society should support our women so that they could get a better standard. The women should be encouraged to take part in trade and economic activities, she said.

LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said that importance of women empowerment should be realized. The women empowerment is one of the most vital issues which should be addressed on priority. It holds the key for the betterment of our families, society and ultimately the economy of country, he said. We terribly lack in creating the much needed awareness about determining the fair status of women in our society that is badly entangled in many social taboos. We should not forget that women are almost 51 percent of our total population. How can we afford to let this potential workforce remain out of productive activities?

LCCI SVP Ali Hussam Asghar said that women empowerment is an understood reality of the world. It is indeed an accepted reality cannot be denied under any circumstances. He said that empowering women is like empowering the society.

Convener of the Standing Committee Tabassum Anwar gave a detailed introduction of a web portal 'saleker.com' for the women entrepreneurs to sale their products online.

The seminar was actually its first convention. She elaborated the road map of the program and said that agenda of the program is to make policy reforms, managing campaigns for a tax-free zone for women members where they can enjoy more profitability, organize seminars, and workshops for boosting managerial, communication, IT, and business skill.