FAISALABAD: Government of Pakistan is taking serious steps to motivate and encourage female entrepreneurs to contribute their proportionate and productive role in national development, while United Nations and many other countries are also ready to assist Pakistan in gender equity in addition to enhancing the role of women in Pakistani society, said Rubina Amjad President Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FWCCI).

She was addressing a “shake-hand” meeting with founding members of the FWCCI here today. She said that Australian High Commissioner and French Ambassador are in contact with her to extend financial and technical help for the women empowerment, with a special focus on Faisalabad. She told that in this connection various delegations are expected to visit FWCCI within the next couple of months. President FWCCI told that she will visit China to attend the inter Pakistan-China Conference in which she will represent the women entrepreneurs of Faisalabad.

She said that Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry has almost finalized its road map while a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has also been inked with the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITHM). Under this MoU, both institutes will collaborate for women empowerment and launch programs to harness the professional skills of women entrepreneur. She said that similar MoUs would also be signed with other universities. “Some MoUs with other universities and institutions are also in the pipeline“. She said and added that these MoUs will further expand the scope of training facilities being arranged for its members by FWCCI.

Continuing, Rubina Amjad welcomed the founding members of FWCCI in this “Shake-hand” meeting and said that they have duel responsibilities of focusing on the promotions of their own businesses in addition to sparing time to help out the young educated women aspiring to enter into the field of businesses.

She said that international community has a general perception about Pakistan that it is a “male-dominated” society. “We have to change this perception by providing maximum opportunities to women to contribute their role and make Pakistani society free from gender based prejudices in our society.

Later, the members briefly introduced them along with their line of trade or business. They also pin pointed problems confronted by them along with their viable solutions. The meeting was also attended by senior vice President Hania Javeed, Vice President Urva Nabeel, Shama Ahmad, Sumera Ashraf, Naheed Saeed, Tehmina Afzal and Hania Mudasir. They also give their valuable inputs to make FWCCI more active and productive.