Women participation in economic activities is must to achieve targets set for progress and prosperity: Shaista Pervez Malik

Islamabad, March 21, 2014 (PPI-OT): Women participation in economic activities is must to achieve the targets set for progress and prosperity particularly in South Asia where women accounts more than half of the total population.

These views were expressed by the Chairperson of SAARC CCI Committee for Women Entrepreneurs and Member National Assembly (MNA) Shaista Pervez Malik while addressing a mega Conference on “South Asian Women” arranged by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was the chief guest while SAARC CCI Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik, MNA Pervez Malik, Ambassadors of SAARC member states, CEO TDAP S.M. Munir, provincial ministers and a large number of women entrepreneurs from SAARC region were present in the conference that was aimed to bring women entrepreneurs of SAARC member countries closer.

While expressing gratitude to SAARC Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik for providing an opportunity to serve as Chairperson of SAARC CCI Committee for Women Entrepreneurs, Shaista Pervez Malik said that women entrepreneurs could play a vital role for development of South Asia if they provided equal opportunities and resources.

She said that women empowerment was key to economic turnaround and the incentives to facilitate women entrepreneurs must be enhanced for this purpose by the governments of SAARC member countries.

Shaista Pervez Malik suggested that TDAP should enhance the incentives given to women entrepreneurs. She said that in Pakistani women, who make well over fifty percent of total population, cannot be kept away from mainstream development in the country. Women should come forward and play their role for well being of the country.

“I would work to ensure enabling environment for business women”, she said, while adding that Chambers of Commerce and government departments would be taken on board to this regard.
She said that women’s economic independence and empowerment was the best way to cope the issues of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, extremism and corruption in the South Asia.

Earlier, present the key note, Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government has taken various initiatives and made the laws up to date in accordance with the present day requirements. He said that PML-N government strongly committed for empowering women folk. He said that women should come forward and contribute towards national development of the country as more than half of the total population comprises women.

Shahbaz Sharif has said that SAARC member states should promote bilateral trade and economic relations in the larger interest of their people. The Chief Minister said that Pakistani women are very talented and rendering invaluable services in various sectors of life. He said that though women have proved their mettle in all fields of human endeavor still they will have to play a more active role.

In his address, Vice President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik threw light on prose and con of mutual relations between the SAARC member countries. The Chief Minister appreciated the services of outgoing chairperson while congratulated Shaista Pervaiz Malik on her appointment as new chairperson.

For more information, contact:
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Chamber Of Commerce and Industry
Apex Business Organization of SAARC
House No. 397, Street 64, I-8/3, Islamabad- Pakistan
Tel: +9251 486 0611 -3, 831 6023
Fax: +9251 831 6024
Email: info@saarcchamber.org,
Website: www.saarcchamber.org