RAWALPINDI: Pakistani women have started playing a larger role in Pakistan”s export sectors than ever before, but there is a dire need to make trade policy, a gender friendly. The government must take a number of gender sensitive actions to enhance the positive contribution of Pakistani women in Pakistan’s international trade, such as special incentives to encourage women in export-oriented service sector.
This was stated by Raja Amer Iqbal, President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) while addressing the closing session on Women Leadership Development Program (WLDP) being organized by RCCI in collaboration with USAID, Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA) here on Wednesday. Raja Amer Iqbal stressed for designing cultural industries, skill development programmes in women-intensive export sectors, access to credit for women-managed SMEs in export sectors. The participation of women in international exhibitions and delegations must be increased, he demanded.
The trade policies affect men and women differently, as more often than not women are constrained by structural gender inequalities such as low skill level, weak ability to negotiate wages or work conditions, said President RCCI.
Earlier, Mujeeb Ahmad Khan, Senior Advisor PREIA and former head of WTO CELL/RAD, TDAP said that Textile sector comprised more than 65% percent of total exports. Women entrepreneurs have been encouraged to come forward and take lead in Garments, bed Sheets and bridal dresses. We have a good repute on bridal side, and globally fashion industry is growing. In the end certificates were distributed among the participants who attended the two day workshop. A memento was presented to PREIA’s chief of party, Donal Cotter
Senior Vice President Rashid Waien, Vice President Asim Malik, members of the executive committee, PREIA’s chief of party, Donal Cotter, PIDE Director Ms Rubina Taufiq Shah, Human Resource and Institutional Capacity Development Expert Ms Asima Awan, Incharge Women Business Incubation Center (WBIC) Laiba Javed, among others, attended the session.
