BALUCHISTAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS LAUD WNBA

(Karachi P.R. 19th Oct, 2017) Ms Masooma Sibtain, Vice President, FPCCI addressing a gathering of women entrepreneurs on the occasion of Women National Business Agenda – WNBA meeting held at FPCCI Office Quetta informed them that WNBA is a joint initiative of FPCCI and Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a U.S. Chamber affiliate organization.

Masooma further said that women represents 50% total population of country and therefore they deserve appropriate share in business field and full participation in economic policies and this should be included in the political party manifesto of General Elections to be held in 2018.

She further added that women throughout Pakistan are showing great interest in WNBA activities as it will help to get in-put of women entrepreneurs to formulate gender focus policies for SME development, Improve excess to finance, Support in Export Re-finance Scheme and Harmonization of Provincial Taxes for women own businesses. It was also emphasized that government should focus on the capacity building of women to outreach in the local and international market for business development. Government should give special incentives to the women entrepreneurs of Baluchistan to enable them to come in business field. Women Entrepreneurs demanded that TDAP should broaden its policies because just inclusion of only Jewellery sector is not sufficient it should include fishery, dry fruit and other related items peculiar to Baluchistan Province. Women Entrepreneurs of Baluchistan should get advocate quota to represent in international exhibition.

Mrs. Masooma Sibtain suggest that Provincial Government should play its role in allocating special funds for women entrepreneurs in the education budget and financial institutions should introduce schemes to support under privileged and interested women entrepreneurs for doing business.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Quetta Women Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Quetta Office, Pak-Iran Joint Chamber of Commerce, Quetta Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce of Small Traders, Quetta, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Small and Medium Enterprises Authority – SMEDA, First Women Bank, NGOs and a large number of women entrepreneurs attended the meeting. The participants highly lauded WNBA initiative and hoped for its good outcome.

Source: http://www.fpcci.org.pk/