Women to be brought into mainstream national economy: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD: Marriyum Aurangzeb, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting said that no country could develop without the due participation of women and the current government was determined to bring maximum women into the mainstream of national economy. 

Addressing a function as the chief guest, organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry to celebrate the “International Women’s Day” she said right from Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, women played important role in the independence and development of the country and added the government has envisaged many initiatives to enhance their role in the economic development of the country.

She said the government’s principal planning document Vision 2025 recognised expanding women’s participation and access to opportunities as central to sustained economic and social development.

She said implementation of Vision 2025 would create many new opportunities for women. She appreciated ICCI for organising this important event and added that such events would contribute to the economic empowerment of women.

Speaking at the occasion, Khalid Iqbal Malik President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that women were half of our total population and the government should take tangible measures to enhance their role in the national development. He said the government should offer special incentives to women entrepreneurs in the forthcoming budget. He said providing women easy access to finance and giving them tax incentives would enable them to flourish in business and become job creators for others.

He also highlighted the key initiatives of ICCI for the economic empowerment of women. He said ICCI in collaboration with UNIDO has established a Business Growth Centre to help women entrepreneurs how to start new business and expand existing businesses. He said ICCI in partnership with Aurat Foundation has launched a new project for capacity building and skills development of women entrepreneurs. He said a specific desk for women entrepreneurs has been established and assured that ICCI would continue to work for the promotion of women entrepreneurship in the region.

Ms. Masooma Sibtain Vice President FPCCI, Ms. Fatima Azeem Chairperson ICCI Sub-Committee on Women Entrepreneurs, Zafar Bakhtawari Chief Organiser and female diplomats of various foreign countries also spoke at the occasion.