ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi called upon the women representative bodies, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), women wings of political parties, eminent women and members of civil society to play an active role to bring the idle women human resources in the business, trade and industrial sectors and elevate them to the decision-making level.
He said that their dream to make Pakistan an economically and financially independent country would remain elusive if they failed to mainstream women, which make up almost 50% of population, in the economy.
The President expressed these views during the meeting with a delegation of the Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FWCCI), which led by FWCCI President Ms Nighat Shahid, called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Vice President FWCCI, Mrs Farhat Nisar and members of the Executive Committee of FWCCI were also present in the meeting.
He called upon the business community and Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to establish linkages with society by launching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects to create awareness and help in resolving burning social, health and environment issues which, he added, would serve larger good of the society and in turn would also increase the acceptability of their products and services by their customers.
Expressing his concern over the low level of disbursement of loans earmarked by banks for women entrepreneurs and women business persons, the President said that as per reports around 5% of the amount set out for the loans by banks had so far been utilized which, he remarked, was alarmingly low.
He called upon all the Chambers of Commerce, especially the Women Chambers of Commerce, to encourage and motivate women entrepreneurs and skilled women to avail these loans from designated banks by proactively helping them in the documentation process and managing other issues faced by the loan seekers.
The President advised the women entrepreneurs to approach Chartered Accounting firms hired by certain banks to assist business women in making bankable business plans and completing the documentation process which, he said, would help them in securing business loans on fast-track basis.
He also expressed his concern over the low representation of women in the country’s Chambers of Commerce as well as businesses, industry and services sectors.
The President said that the government had introduced many businesswomen-friendly initiatives and had been encouraging women across the country to participate in business activities but so far desired results were not forthcoming.
