AHORE (February 02 2008): Women entrepreneurs have urged the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to recognise them as a separate sector and devise a strategy to provide them with special loans. The demand was made at a meeting between the Punjab Women and SBP officials here on Friday.

The meeting, arranged by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) warned the SBP that the process of engendering was going on in all sectors of the economy throughout the world and the bank should also replicate it by recognising the women entrepreneurs a separate sector. Its main aim was to discuss the bank-related issues of women entrepreneurs and tell the central bank about the lack of loans to this sector.

Participants urged the bank to conduct studies and provide loaning facilities of up to Rs 100,000 for the sector without any collateral. Other suggestions included group loaning facilities for the entrepreneurs, which India also has. The bank officials said they would forward these suggestions to their bank high-ups.

The TDAP authorities said they would have a follow-up meeting with the bank officials. Those attending the meeting were Women Entrepreneurs Chairperson Shamim Akhtar, Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Shehla Javed Akram and Kausar Ishaq of the Multan Chamber.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:2/2/2008