Housewives can also play crucial role in economic development of country;

SDC to provide training to women entrepreneurs on subsidised rates: Farid

Competitiveness must for global positioning: Samina Fazil

“Women entrepreneurs will be provided training on subsidised rates. As a capacity building initiative for women in business, SDC would provide them partial financial support from public funds”, Mian Akram Farid, Chairman of the Skill Development Council (SDC) on Tuesday said.

Chairman SDC further said, “The housewives can also play a crucial role in the economic development of the country by getting required skills that can make them productive. There are 3.2 million businesses in Pakistan of which 99 per cent are SMEs but only 3 per cent are owned by women. These businesses contribute to 99 of jobs outside agriculture,” he informed.

He added that strong skill development is the key to the economic well-being. Speaking at a function organised by Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI), Mian Akram Farid said that ICCI is establishing a modern Export Display Centre which will provide all possible support women entrepreneurs.

“Similarly rural women are integral part of the economy and entire livestock sector is dependent of services of invisible women,” Farid added. He said that women are more focused on garments, fashion, jewellery and beauty salons ignoring many sectors that badly need their attention. Farid advised women to explore branding, advertising, e-marketing and start making personal, business and product profile to boost businesses. Speaking on the occasion, Samina Fazil, President, IWCCI said that government institutions should contact international donor agencies to get services of experts for conducting courses.

She lauded the move by SDC to provide training facilities to women at affordable cost and demanded to increase the number of such courses. We have been ignoring value addition, quality production and innovation to rely on export of textile-based products which has helped us become a cotton economy which will not bring dividends in the long run, said Samina Fazil. Pakistan’s future lies in strong export driven manufacturing base, modernizing critical sectors, seeking new markets and creating competitiveness for global positioning, she said.