Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) hosted a reception in honour of SM Tanveer, Minister of Industries and Commerce, Government of Punjab, which was heavily participated by leaders of the business community, women entrepreneurs and government officials. Speaking at the occasion, SM Tanveer said that women empowerment is at the top of the government’s agenda, without which the dream of national development cannot be achieved.
He said that IWCCI is one of the country’s most effective women’s chambers, playing a laudable role in empowering women through entrepreneurship. The government will extend all possible help towards this noble cause.
He added that providing business skills training is a basic step toward empowering women entrepreneurs, but to truly achieve transformative change, training programs need to address constraints facing women.
SM Tanveer said financial and digital literacy is very important to empower women. We have one of the world’s lowest rates of female entrepreneurship, with only one per cent of women owning a business.
He said women are also stepping into the manufacturing sector and assured women will get space in the industrial zones.
Speaking at the occasion, Shahzad Ali Malik, Chairman of United Business Group and others said women empowerment is challenging in Pakistan. Still, it’s necessary to improve the economic landscape in the country. They urged the government to simplify policies and provide an enabling environment for women-run small businesses.
Founder President IWCCI Samina Fazil said that current women’s economic empowerment interventions are not enough to overcome all obstacles facing female entrepreneurs.
Men and women entrepreneurs face inherently different constraints, including psychological and cultural factors. She added that Female entrepreneurs often need more access to financial and human capital, which impedes business growth.
Samina Fazil said that the success of female entrepreneurs depends on their personal traits and entrepreneurial skills and how institutions and stakeholders support them.