Women empowerment key to economic turnaround: LCCI

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Women empowerment key to economic turnaround: LCCI

LAHORE: The LCCI President, Shahzad Ali Malik has said that the women empowerment is a key to economic turnaround therefore the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) should double the incentives to facilitate women entrepreneurs in the larger interests of the progress and prosperity of the country.

Shahzad Ali Malik was speaking at LCCI Women Empowerment and Advocacy Forum meeting held here Friday. The Chairperson of the Women Empowerment & Advocacy Forum and MNA Shireen Arshad Khan, Advisor toChief Minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, LCCI outgoing President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry and former LCCI Executive Committee Member Rehmatullah Javed also spoke on the occasion.

The LCCI President said that the women, who make well over fifty per cent of total population, cannot be kept aloof of development of the country and they should come forward to play their role for the well-being of the people of this part of land.

While urging the women to take part in nation building activities for the sake of our future generations, Shahzad Ali Malik said that thatLahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry was making all possible efforts for the upgradation of women entrepreneurs and for ensuring an enabling environment to them so that they could be able to do business with peace of mind and maximum ease. He said that the days were not very far when Pakistan would be Standing tall among the comity of nations.

He said that the government in collaboration with the chambers of Commerce and other trade bodies in the country should evolve a Roadmap for the upgradation of women entrepreneurs.

He urged the government to allocate special funds in coming federal budget for the upgradation of women entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the occasion, MNA Shireen Arshad Khan, the Chairperson of the LCCI Women Empowerment and Advocacy Forum, appreciated the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry for extending an active support for the cause of women empowerment. She said that it was the LCCI that enabled the Forum to serve the cause of women empowerment especially brining WEXNET to Lahore & ensuring the participation of LCCI women members in this mega event.

She said that a number of important events including a seminar "Strengthening SMEs for a Better Tomorrow in collaboration Business Support Fund were on the credit of LCCI Women Empowerment and Advocacy Forum.

In his address, the former LCCI President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry said that the preparation of LCCI Economic Agenda 2010-30, Establishment of Pakistan Halal Product Development Board and LCCI FM Radio would go a long way in bringing much-needed economic turnaround.

In her concluding remarks, Advisor to Chief Minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz said that no country can ever taste progress and prosperity until and unless its women play their role.

She said that the Punjab Board of Investment & Trade (PBIT) had been tasked by the Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to facilitate the women entrepreneurs and it was working day in and day out to achieve the desired goal.