The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Vice President, Faisal Iqbal Sheikh has said that the women entrepreneurs need to play their role with greater reliance, self-esteem and dedication for the economic growth of the country. He also said that they should inculcate leadership skills for which the LCCI would continue to play its role.
Faisal Iqbal Sheikh said this while speaking at a function arranged in honour of women entrepreneurs here on Tuesday. He said that it was encouraging that now there was a consensus in Pakistan as well, that the best way to achieve women's emancipation is through economic independence, which can be achieved through an increased participation of women in economic activity and entrepreneurship.
Iqbal Sheikh said that according to a UN Report the economic development is closely related to the advancement of women. "In countries where women have advanced, the economy has usually been steady. By contrast, in countries where women have been restricted, the economy has been stagnant." The LCCI Vice President linked the progress of the country with the participation of women in economic activities stating that the women have better chances to excel for having better managerial skills.
Convenor LCCI Standing Committee Nasira Taskeen said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry would utilise all its resources to solve the issues being faced by the women businessmen. She said that all measures were being taken to ensure the participation of women entrepreneurs in LCCI foreign delegations or for their participation in foreign exhibitions as they had to face troubles with particular reference to their business visits.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI former President Mian Shafqat Ali said that women constitute fifty two of the total population of the country but only eleven percent are engaged in business activity, and are contributing to national economy. While remaining have been confined to household affairs therefore, there was a dire need to engage more and more women into business activities to promote national economy.
He said that in recent years government has been focusing more on the development of women entrepreneurs in the country but due attention is needed by offering focused opportunities in export of goods to international market.