Pakistan Gender Equity Initiatives Lauded

FPCCI Ties Women Empowerment To Development: Mirza Abdul Rehman

FPCCI To Back Women’s Chamber Initiatives: Samina Fazil

Dated: March 27

Islamabad: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Tuesday lauded government’s initiatives for gender equity that is imperative for the national development.

Government is influencing the lives of disadvantaged women by enabling them to enhance quality of life and become architects of their future, it said.

Women need more opportunities for education and economic transformation which will strengthen families and transform country, said VP FPCCI Mirza Abdul Rehman.

Speaking to business community at FPCCI Capital Office, he said that women are being offered opportunities regardless to race, income or educational level, but more is to be done.

Mirza Abdul Rehman said that empowering women is a vehicle to attain prosperity, ensure food security and improve lives of children which will accelerate progress.

Women are lagging behind in revenue generation capacity which call for enhanced capacity building initiatives, he said.

FPCCI will fully back the Islamabad Expo 2012, a women empowerment move organised by the Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on 7th and 8th of April, said Mirza Abdul Rehman.

Founder President IWCCI Samina Fazil, Karim Aziz Malik, Naseebullah Khan Tareen and others were also present on the occasion.

Samina Fazil said that majority of women are living in disadvantaged circumstances facing systemic obstacles as their services and strengths are not acknowledged.

We should share human resources and talents, train leadership, identify new leaders, make bridges, and build social capital to enhance the well-being of women, she said.

Samina Fazil said that women lack access to institutions, information, relief, credit and compensation services due to behavioural issues in the society which must be changed.

Women have emerged as growing part of the economy yet lack of awareness, good practices and gender equity is blocking their progress in socio-political and economic fields, she observed.

She demanded of the government to hike the percentage of women in the National Assembly from 23 to 33 per cent, more legislation, steps to ensure proper status, postings against important assignments and additional funds for empowerment in the upcoming budget.