WOMEN PARTICIPATION MUST FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS

LAHORE: The government of Pakistan must offer focused opportunities to women entrepreneurs, especially in exporting goods to the international market.

The country cannot achieve the target of economic growth without due participation of women in economic activities, as they constitute more than half of Pakistan’s population.

This was the crux of the speeches delivered at a seminar on “Protection of Women against harassment”, jointly organised by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and HomeNet Pakistan at the LCCI on Monday. LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz was the Chief Guest while Senior Vice President Mian Nauman Kabir, Provincial Ombudsperson Mira Phailbus,

HomeNet Pakistan Senior Programme Officer Javed Pasha, Executive Director Ume Laila Azhar and Chairperson Provincial Commission on the Status of Women Fauzia Viqar spoke on the occasion.

In her address, Provincial Ombudsperson Mira Phailbus said that the government is committed to create a safe working environment for women, which is free of harassment, abuse, and intimidation with a view towards fulfilment of their right to work with dignity.

She said that the parliament for the protection against harassment of women at the workplace promulgated a law in March 2010. This law requires all public and private organisations to adopt an internal code of conduct and a complaint and appeals mechanism aimed at establishing a safe working environment for working women, she said.

LCCI president said that society should change its attitude towards the working women to make the working environment safe and conducive for the womenfolk.

Women have excelled in almost every walk of life in progressive societies, he said, adding that it was achieved due to certain attitudes which were shaped and moulded in decades as to how women should be treated and respected.

He lamented that due to adverse circumstances, a large number of women, despite having education and God-gifted abilities, were reluctant to work or do business, which is a national loss.

Mumtaz stressed the need of a civilised mindset to achieve the desired results.

The LCCI president said that the government should offer focused opportunities to the women entrepreneurs in export of goods to international market.

The LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Nauman Kabir said the Lahore chamber will leave no stone unturned for the betterment of women entrepreneurs.

He said that women workers should acquire modern techniques for business promotion and come forward with new ideas.

Kabir said that despite the abundance of resources and quality goods in Pakistan, the country is not getting its due share in the world economy because of poor brand management. (Courtesy by thenews.com.pk)