Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi has said that Pakistani women have started playing a major role in Pakistan's export sectors than ever before, but still there is a dire need to make trade policy a gender-friendly because monetary agencies, banks are reluctant to advance loans to female entrepreneurs.
While addressing the women entrepreneurs, he said the government must take a number of gender sensitive actions to enhance the positive contribution of Pakistani women in international trade, such as special incentives to encourage women in export-oriented service sector.
Roomi stressed for designing cultural industries, skill development programmes in women-intensive export sectors and access to credit for women-managed SMEs in export sectors. The participation of women in international exhibitions and delegations must be increased, he demanded. Roomi said that Textile sector comprised more than 65 percent of total exports. Women entrepreneurs have been encouraged to come forward and take lead in garments, bed sheets and bridal dresses.