Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) celebrated International Women Day on Saturday by arranging different events, an expo and conference.
Ms Ina Lepel, Ambassador Germany, was the chief guest on the occasion while President RCCI Mian Humayun Parvez, senior vice president Saqib Rafiq, vice president Muhammad Aqil Obaid, group leader Sheikh Shabbir, former president Kashif Shabbir, chairperson RCCI Women Entrepreneur Committee Mehwish Afridi, vice chairman Sadia Aftab, renowned educationist Riffat Mushtaq, members’ executive committee and large number of women members of RCCI were also present at the chamber to mark Women Day.
A display of paintings, dresses, jewelry, handicrafts, face painting and food items was part of the event.
Women entrepreneurs showcased their products and various stalls were setup in this regard in Chamber to pay rich tribute to women as whole and especially businesswomen.
Speaking on the occasion, German Ambassador Ms Ina Lepel said that organizing such events by the chamber must be appreciated and RCCI only has distinction among others by its uniqueness.She said that gender equality was a worldwide issue.Workplace harassment was one of the factors that hinder women in Pakistan to come out.
She expressed hope that Pakistan government would introduce more reforms in laws covering women protection.
She referred to Germany where a long struggle was made by women to achieve success.
” Now women are running different businesses, from leather to top company officials”, she added.
She said its chamber’s responsibility to provide maximum support and facilities to women so that they can start small businesses.
She lauded the role of RCCI and hoped that same spirit would be kept in future.
President RCCI Mian Humayun Parvez said that no nation could make progress without the progress of women.
He said that the major aim of celebrating this day was to acknowledge the economic and social contribution made by women to the country.
He acknowledged women’s role in uplifting socio-economic condition of the country.
“In Pakistan working women number has been increased and now a day there was not a single department where women were not playing their role,” he added.
He said women are making a useful contribution in different sectors of life.
It could either be as a human resource manager, armed forces, civil services, business executives, or as a doctor, engineer, journalist, banker and fashion designer.
Rawalpindi Chamber always welcomed women to participate in Chamber’s activities to bring change in businesses.
RCCI women incubation centre for business women will provide an equipped place to women to display their products and hold meetings to promote their businesses.
He said that RCCI will provide free consultancy to those women who want to start their own business.
Educationist Riffat Mushtaq, First announcer on Radio Pakistan Kanwal Naseer, DIG Motorway Traffic Police Helena Iqbal Saeed, Director Mehargarh Maliha Hussain, Regional Director Punjab Small Industry Corporation Farrah Razzak, and Rock climber Nazia Parvez also spoke on the occasion.
At the end participants visited different stalls set up by women entrepreneurs.
