MULTAN: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) S.M Munir acknowledged that women entrepreneurs were making substantive and precious contribution to the mainstream economy.
While speaking at a ceremony organized jointly by TDAP in collaboration with Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI)
Multan division here on Sunday night, S.M Munir said, “It’s our desire that this phenomenon should be more dynamic in South Punjab through establishment of women chambers in Bahawalpur, Vehari and other cities like the one operational in Multan”.
Munir said that TDAP organizes 118 exhibitions annually. TDAP would support only those women in such exhibitions who would avail the opportunity to export their products and made it clear that requests of those who spoil the opportunity merely as a recreational trip would not be entertained.
He said that TDAP was slashing the subsidy on exhibitions usually held throughout the country by 10 per cent due to paucity of funds. However, he added that regional women chambers were at liberty to send their requests for training workshops and different other projects and TDAP would provide assistance to them.
To another question regarding exhibitions in India, CEO TDAP said that situation was not suitable these days for holding such events in India.
Meanwhile, at a dinner hosted by Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, S.M Munir said that Pakistan still possess potential to emerge as an Asian Tiger in the region provided corruption is eliminated and cost of doing business is reduced for industry, manufacturing all other sectors.
He said that FIA was investigating corruption cases worth billions of rupees as part of initiatives to eliminate corruption from TDAP. He said that TDAP performance has improved due to certain steps taken by thegovernment and it was now serving as a bridge between the government and the business community. Every request from the business community is now responded by TDAP swiftly,he added. He said that Chinese investment worth Rs 47 trillion for China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC) would expand industrial base in the country.
President MCCI Mian Iqbal Hassan stressed upon providing incentives to manufacturing sector and steps to encourage domestic investors to divert flow of investments from real estate to manufacturing activity.
He said according to a report from Dubai Land Department, Pakistani investors made huge investments in real estate business in Dubai in 2013-14 and this trend also continued in Jan-Feb-Mar in 2015.
Vice president Saarc Chambers of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik said that best performing women entrepreneurs would be rewarded at a Saarc exhibition to be held in December this year in Lahore.
Executive member WCCI Multan division Masooma Sabtain said that WCCI Multan has 185 members and 60 of them were doing business at national level and another 30 were exporting quality products to foreign countries.
She said that women were also being imparted training on modern lines by TDAP and other organizations.
She said that database of skilled women in the region has been compiled and WCCI was in contact with them to provide earning opportunities on regular basis.
Zubair Tufail, FPCCI former president Zubair Malik, vice president FPCCI Mian Ikram Fareed, Abdur Rauf Asim, Zafar Bakhtawri,Ijaz Abbasi, Khalid Javed, Mian Shoukat Masud, Suhail Malik,Babar Chaudhry, Noor Khan, Khawaja Jalaluddin Rumi, Khawaja Muhammad Yousuf, and women entrepreneurs from Bahawalpur including Mrs. Sheereen were also present.
