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Islamabad, March 11, 2014 (PPI-OT): Google Business Group (GBG) – Pakistan Chapter and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) have joined hands to lead the Women on the Web (WoW) initiative in Pakistan with the support of Google. The initiative will help Pakistani women utilize the power of the Internet more effectively to grow their businesses.
In Pakistan, this special initiative for women is also being supported by local government bodies, trade associations and business partners including the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Centre of International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Islamabad Chambers of Commerce (ICCI), Islamabad Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) and Peshawar Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PWCCI), as well as online freelancing websites Elance and Freelancer.pk.
Commenting on the WoW initiative, Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, CEO of SMEDA, Government of Pakistan said, “SMEDA’s hitherto experience of women entrepreneurship includes establishment of Women Business Development Centers in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Swat.
To date, 20,000 women have been successfully provided trainings, counseling, exhibition and incubation facility and other business development services for their business promotion and establishment. It is also my pleasure to share that in the upcoming WEXNET 2014, SMEDA is sponsoring participation of 36 women entrepreneurs across Pakistan.
Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan scheme provides an opportunity to women to access finance – a key impediment to business start-up and expansion. In fact, a quota of 50% has been stipulated in the scheme to empower women and encourage entrepreneurship.
I am pleased that SMEDA is a partner of Women on Web (WoW) in Pakistan, an initiative of GBG and P@SHA. This is indeed a great opportunity for existing and potential women entrepreneurs to compete in the global market on a level playing field through use of ICT and digital communication channels.
Digital marketing is critical in the growth of a business, where competition is just a click away. Use of ICT is the way forward. We hope together with GBG Pakistan and P@SHA support, Pakistani women will be able to create an online presence and create more value for their business.”
For more information, contact:
Secretariat
Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA)
Room 310, 3rd Floor, Business Centre
Block 2, PECHS, Main Shahrah-e-Faisal
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35418121
Email: secretariat@pasha.org.pk