Category: Economic Empowerment

President Asif Ali Zardari has called for financial autonomy of women and improving their access to financial services and credit to encourage women entrepreneurs.

He was talking to Standard Chartered Bank’s Group Chief Executive Bill Winters, who along with his delegation, called on him in Islamabad today.

The President said economic empowerment of women would not only strengthen them financially but would also help uplift their families, besides contributing to the national economy. He said banks should support women entrepreneurs as well as enhance their representation in the banking sector.

Asif Ali Zardari highlighted that Pakistan has taken steps to protect the environment and promote forestation. He informed that the Government of Sindh has planted mangrove forests and earned millions of dollars by trading carbon credits in the international market. He suggested that investing in the climate sector would help protect the environment.

The President also called for investing in the agricultural sector as well as financing infrastructure projects in the country, especially small dams, barrages and power plants. He said banks should extend financial services and loans to farmers to increase their access to agricultural inputs.

Asif Ali Zardari congratulated the bank on the completion of successful operations. He said the bank has played a commendable role in the evolution of the country’s banking sector. He expressed the hope that the Standard Chartered Bank would continue to play a crucial role in Pakistan’s economy, besides expanding its operations in the country.

The delegation briefed the President about the bank’s contributions to Pakistan’s economy, the development and evolution of the banking industry, and the socio-economic development of the country.   

Source: Radio Pakistan

SANGHAR   –   Hari Welfare association has demanded to ensure payment of minimum wages at Rs.32000 to peasant women working in agriculture fields in Sindh. According to a press release, it said that peasant Women and laborers were living in a very miserable condition as despite announcements of Sindh Government to pay minimum wages at Rs.32000 they were being paid Rs.8000 to Rs.15000 per month which was insufficient to cater their financial needs.   HWA said that the socio-economic situation of women has highly deteriorated while torrential rain and catastrophe have also increased their miseries due to destruction of their homes and death of live stock.

Welfare association said that the re-construction of their homes is slow, resulting in millions of peasants were compelled to live in open sky. It deplored that no appropriate project for economical rehabilitation of peasants had been executed due to which rural woman was still badly affected in this modern age.

Source: The Nation

ISLAMABAD   –   Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr Fouzia Saeed on Friday urged private sector and civil society organizations to strengthen business sustainability and women’s empowerment to ensure their active participation by creating job opportunities for them. Fouzia said that adequate implementations of laws are crucial to providing a secure environment for women to prosper themselves. As a way of strengthening confidence, personal and professional skill building can provide opportunities to women, she added. She said women can build their self-confidence and increase their economic power by learning new skills adding that women’s empowerment is important for the progress of a country or a nation. 

Source: The Nation

ISLAMABAD: A new report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has outlined how under-investment in health systems results in a vicious cycle of unpaid health and care work, lowering women’s participation in paid labour markets and hampering gender equality.

The report titled ‘Fair share for health and care: gender and the undervaluation of health and care work’ suggested investment in public health systems to reduce the burden of unpaid care work and improve the quality of healthcare services.

It stated women comprise 67 per cent of the paid global health and care workforce. However, in addition to this paid work, it has been estimated that women perform an estimated 76pc of all unpaid care activities.

The report highlighted that low pay and demanding working conditions are common in the health and care sector.

Devaluing care giving, which is work performed primarily by women, negatively impacts wages, working conditions, productivity and the economic footprint of the sector

Source: Dawn

LAHORE  –   Rural Community Development Programme (RCDP) reaffirmed its commitment to the empowerment and financial independence of women with the distribution of 25 interest-free auto- rickshaws in a simple yet impactful ceremony held at Scheme More Branch Multan Road on Tuesday. Led by Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Murtaza Khokhar. The event marked another significant step towards fulfilling RCDP’s mission to uplift and support women across the province of Punjab. In his address, Muhammad Murtaza Khokhar emphasized the pivotal role women play in society, constituting more than 50 percent of the population. He reiterated RCDP’s unwavering dedication to empowering women, recognizing that their economic independence is fundamental to the overall development of communities. “Our efforts are laserfocused on providing women with the tools and opportunities they need to shape their destinies,” he stated, underscoring RCDP’s multifaceted approach to empowerment. Muhammad Murtaza Khokhar highlighted the strides RCDP has taken in fostering inclusivity and gender equality, with initiatives ranging from vocational training programs to entrepreneurship support. He emphasised the importance of breaking down systemic barriers that hinder women’s progress, advocating for policies that promote equal access to education, healthcare, and economic resources. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts involving government, civil society, and private sectors to create an enabling environment for women to thrive. “By harnessing the potential of our female population, we not only uplift individuals but also entire communities,” he said. Concluding with a call to action for sustained commitment towards gender parity. As applause filled the room, it was evident that Muhammad Murtaza Khokhar’s words resonated deeply, inspiring renewed determination to champion the rights and empowerment of women across the region. RCDP has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at fostering women’s entrepreneurship, offering comprehensive support through access to interest-free loans and tailored training programmes. By enabling women to embark on various business ventures, RCDP aims to not only enhance their economic prospects but also foster a culture of self-reliance and resilience. Kashif Riaz Malik, representing Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), commended RCDS’s efforts, highlighting the transformative impact of empowering women on socio-economic development. He emphasised the importance of collaborative endeavours between organizations and educational institutions to drive positive change and create opportunities for marginalized communities. The distribution of interest-free auto-rickshaws symbolizes RCDP’s unwavering commitment to fostering women’s economic empowerment and social inclusion. By equipping women with the means to generate income and pursue their aspirations, RCDP aims to catalyze positive change at the grassroots level, ultimately contributing to the broader development agenda of the nation.

Source: The Nation