Women asked to play role in economy

LAHORE: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Faisal Iqbal Sheikh asked women entrepreneurs to play their role with greater reliance, self esteem and dedication for economic growth of the country. The LCCI vice president was speaking at a function arranged in honour of women entrepreneurs at the LCCI on Tuesday. LCCI former president Mian Shafqat Ali and Convener Standing Committee on Women Resource Centre Nasira Taskeen also spoke on the occasion. He said no country in the world could prosper and progress without due participation of women in all spheres of life. He said according to the UN report the economic development is closely related to the advancement of women. In countries where women have advanced, the economy is usually steady. By contrast, in countries where women have been restricted, the economy is stagnant. Taskeen said the LCCI would utilise all its resources to solve the issues being faced by business women.

She said all measures were being taken to ensure the participation of women entrepreneurs in LCCI s foreign delegations or for their participation in foreign exhibitions as they had to face troubles with particular reference to their business visits. Speaking on the occasion, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry former president said women constitute 52 of the total population of the country but only 11 per cent are engaged in business activity and are contributing to the national economy while the rest is confined to household affairs therefore there was a dire need to engage more and more women into business activities with a view to promoting the economy. He said today women are well aware of their rights and they are entering into non-traditional businesses like boutiques, beauty parlours, textile designing, printing and publishing, architecture, banking, IT, business management, fashion designing et cetera. He assured the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry to leave no stone unturned for the betterment of women entrepreneurs. He said they should acquire modern techniques for business promotion and come forward with new ideas.