ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a programme on Sunday said society should facilitate women to start business to achieve personal freedom, security and satisfaction. The programme was arranged for women entrepreneurs at Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI).

“Women are silent contributors to the economic and social development but their substantial role is largely unnoticed or taken for granted,” the speakers observed. Mian Shahid, chief executive officer of an insurance company, said that the business community should help strengthen the capacity of businesswomen. Helping women to explore and enhance business potential, develop business, access credit, assistance with marketing skills and product design can help combat economic recession in Pakistan, he added.

He said that women hold only one per cent assets in the country, which result in their one per cent contribution in the total income tax collections that describes attitude towards them. He said that there are many issues confronting the development of women including the idea of female as being secondary to male and of women’s businesses being of less significance, he said. He said that there is a pressing need to empower women economically and create employment opportunities to enable them to survive, prosper, and support their families.

Source: Daily Times

Date:11/7/2011