Chairman CDA Captain (Retd) Noor Ul Amin Mengal has said that empowering women is high on his agenda, and businesswomen will be facilitated to grow and play a positive role in national development. He said that women comprise most of the population and should be brought into the mainstream, which is imperative for national development. Chairman CDA said this while talking to a businesswomen delegation led by Samina Fazil, founder and president of Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI).

He said that businesswomen had suffered a lot due to the pandemic and the economic conditions; therefore, CDA will offer support to businesswomen to help them overcome the losses.

He said the present situation has made things harder for women, mainly those involved in businesses and those facing poverty, for multiple reasons.

Chairman CDA Captain (Retd) Noor Ul Amin Mengal said we would try our best to support businesswomen, as most are related to the services sector.

During the meeting, Samina Fazil and President IWCCI Rizwana Asif demanded the allocation of space in F-9 Park where IWCCI can conduct exhibitions three times a year, a plot for the office of IWCCI at a suitable location, and an area for a display centre to facilitate women artisans, introduce them to foreign buyers to trigger exports.

The leaders of IWCCI also demanded space for a one-day Sunday Bazaar in the F-9 Park and for Dastakar Bazaar.

Noor Ul Amin Mengal took these demands very positively and said all the needs were justified. He said that it is the right of women to promote themselves, and we have a responsibility to support them so that they can improve their businesses.

He directed the concerned quarters to look into the demands of businesswomen and resolve their issues on a priority basis.