KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPPCI), responding to global shift to women empowerment and their active participation, has planned to soon set up a modern display centre for promotion of women entrepreneurs especially from the rural areas of the country.
There is a big women potential which simply needs due projection and support from the government, private sector and the society in general, said Rizwana Shahid.
In an interview with APP here, Chairperson FPCCI Standing Committee on Women Entrepreneurs and Adviser to SAARC Women Entrepreneurs Council, Rizwana Shahid said the display centre at FPCCI here would greatly help in showcasing for the visitors especially the foreigners various products including handicrafts, traditional embroidery and home and cottage industry products by women besides gems and jewellery, garments and foods.
“This centre has been approved by the FPCCI leadership and would soon be functioning,” she added.
As a step towards women empowerment, under the umbrella of FPCCI Standing on Women Entrepreneurs, the businesswomen were being given short trainings and presentations at FPCCI on different trades and products so that they could promote their businesses and start new ones in a better way, she informed.
She said that for turning the dream of women empowerment into a reality, the officials of FPCCI Committee on Women Entrepreneurs do visit to cities and towns of the country especially the rural and remote areas, and katchiabadis to mobilize the women-folk to rise and actively participate in economic and social activities for their own and the families’ better future along with economic prosperity and development of the country.
For ensuring their participation, she said, first FPCCI team provides ration and meets other basic needs of a poor family including making reasonable arrangements and finances education of their children. Then, FPCCI define an economic or social role for the women members of the household.
“Arts and talent is very much available among the women in rural and backwards areas. They barely get support from the society and the government,” she regretted.
Rizwana Shahid also informed that she had applied to Federal Ministry of Commerce for setting up a women chamber of commerce and industry in District South Karachi and was confident to have soon.
She said there were big Asian and SAARC markets available for Pakistani garments which must be captured through more value-addition and diversity of products.
She said the women engaged in fashion designing have emerged more successful.
Now, she added, the women have spread their economic activities to many sectors including cattle farming.
