LAHORE: Women participation in economic activities is must to achieve the targets set for progress and prosperity particularly in South Asia where women accounts more than half of the total population.
These views were expressed by MNA Shaista Pervez Malik while addressing a seminar in connection with the World Women Day. A large number of women entrepreneurs and people from different walks of life were present on the occasion.
Shaista Pervez Malik said that women entrepreneurs could play a vital role for development of South Asia if they provided equal opportunities and resources.
She said that women empowerment was key to economic turnaround and the incentives to facilitate women entrepreneurs must be enhanced for this purpose by the governments of SAARC member countries.
Shaista Pervez Malik suggested that TDAP should enhance the incentives given to women entrepreneurs. She said that in Pakistani women, who make well over fifty percent of total population, cannot be kept away from mainstream development in the country. Women should come forward and play their role for well being of the country.
“I would work to ensure enabling environment for business women”, she said, while adding that Chambers of Commerce and government departments would be taken on board to this regard.
She said that women’s economic independence and empowerment was the best way to cope the issues of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, extremism and corruption in the South Asia.
She informed the participants that government has taken various initiatives and made the laws up to date in accordance with the present day requirements. She said that PML-N government strongly committed for empowering women folk. She said that women should come forward and contribute towards national development of the country as more than half of the total population comprises women.
Shaista Pervez Malik said that SAARC member states should promote bilateral trade and economic relations in the larger interest of their people.
She said that Pakistani women are very talented and rendering invaluable services in various sectors of life. He said that though women have proved their mettle in all fields of human endeavor still they will have to play a more active role.
