Khattak announces Rs10m for training of women entrepreneurs

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday announced an assistance of Rs10 million for the training of women entrepreneurs and said that ensuring equal opportunities to womenfolk was part of his government’s agenda.

Speaking at the inauguration of the third three-day Women Trade Fare, he directed the Women Empowerment and Planning and Development departments to map out a proper policy framework for the development of women entrepreneurship in the province.

He said the provincial government had already put a number of incentives for women entrepreneurs in the recently-announced industrial policy.The chief minister said that it was an encouraging sign for the economic and social development of the province that a considerable number of women opted to adopt business, trade and entrepreneurship as profession.

The chief minister announced that accommodation would be provided for a display centre in one of the two high-rise buildings the provincial government was planning to construct in Nishtarabad and Hayatabad.

Later, he inaugurated the Women Trade Fare at the Services Club that would continue through Sunday. The chief minister had a round of over 80 stalls at the fair set up by women entrepreneurs from across the country.

The trade fair is jointly being organised the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI).President WCCI Nasra Laghmani and director TDAP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Nauman Bashir, president Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) Zulfiqar Ali Khan and WCCI executive member Sajida Zulfiqar also spoke at the inaugural ceremony of the trade fair.

Nasra Laghmani highlighted the problems being faced by the women entrepreneurs, while Nauman Bashir asked the provincial government to provide display centre for expos to market the products being produced in the province.

He also informed that a seminar for women entrepreneurs would be organized at the sideline of the fair today (Saturday) to update them on the branding and marketing of their products.Deputy speaker provincial assembly, Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Minister Minerals Development, Anisa Zeb, vice-presidents WCCI, Dr Mussarat Khalid, Shamama Arbab and a large of number of women attended the ceremony.