Seminar on carrier orientation for women held

A one day seminar on "Carrier Orientation for Women" was held under the auspices of Departmental Committee on Women Entrepreneurs of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion Anita Khawaja said that there are bright opportunities for women folk for flourishing their independent business as well as for serving at executive posts not only in private sector but also in government departments.
Anita Khawaja further stated that it was heartening to note that SCCI was making adequate efforts for the promotion of women entrepreneurship in this export-oriented city and nucleus of cottage industry of the country.
It is high time that women community should come forward and avail the opportunities for establishing their independent business and demonstrate abilities for accelerating the economic activities, he said. Anita Khawaja said that women folk had great potential and could play due role in different sectors including the business.
Addressing the seminar Shamim Akhtar convenor Standing Committee on Women Entrepreneur of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said that women community should get rid the stereotype approach and study the opportunities for initiating their independent business. She called upon the women that they should start their business on small scale adding that women can initiate house keeping services, food business both fresh home cooked to advance packed food agri-based business.
Speaking on the occasion renowned businesswoman of Lahore Nabila Intisar underscored the need of the provision of micro financing without collateral to the potential entrepreneurs and the guarantee should be arranged through local councils. About 48 percent of female population currently dormant are a force to be recognised, organised and put in order to achieve elevation in the scale of the nation, she said.
Nabila further stated that women entrepreneurs are increasingly becoming the driving forces of economies particularly in Pakistan. She said that women are more flexible and innovative which leads to new business creations and it was possible that increasing the number of female owned business would have a major impact on the productivity growth of the country.
On this occasion former SCCI President Dr Nouman Idris Butt said that Sialkot Chamber was making hectic efforts for activating the women entrepreneurship in this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country. The prime concept of SCCI was to provide maximum assistance and guidance to the women folk in obtaining employment and initiating fresh business, he said.
Dr Nouman Butt said that it was our responsibility to encourage the women to enter into business, which definitely would help in promotion of business activities.
The acting President SCCI Dr Sarfraz Bashir while addressing the seminar revealed that a "Special Women Entrepreneurs Cell" has been set up in the chamber for extending assistance to women entrepreneurs. Dr Sarfraz Bashir further stated that Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry had always tried its best motivate and facilitate participation of women in business. The seminar would surely provide good information to the women that would enable the participants to select the best suitable line in which they have an edge over the male entrepreneurs, he added.
Addressing the seminar the Chairperson of Departmental Committee on Women Entrepreneurs SCCI Shabnam Asif said that drastic steps had been taken by SCCI for creating awareness among the women about starting independent business and providing them a forum for expressing their viewpoints.
Special attention had been focused on compiling of database of final years female students of M Com, B Com, and other subjects like statistic and economics, she disclosed.
There was wide scope and bright opportunities for women to enter into business for playing due role in the promotion of various industrial sectors of Sialkot. The women community of Sialkot is highly educated, capable and ready to demonstrate its ability not only in business sector but also in other fields, Shabnam Asif said. She said that the seminar would help the participants in setting up their future carrier line as well as initiating the business.