KARACHI, Oct 25: Around 140 participants are displaying their products ranging from household products to sophisticated jewellery, fashion garments, gifts and handicrafts in the WEXNET 2002, a national exhibition for women entrepreneurs which has opened on Friday at Expo Centre, Karachi.

The exhibition will be opened for general visitors during last two days (Oct 26-27) and the organizers of the EPB and FPCCI, in order to facilitate the stall holders, has allowed spot sale. The first day (Oct 25) has been fixed for visitors from foreign consulates, traders, buying houses but no sale was allowed. There are 150 stalls, out of which 138 are of women entrepreneurs and the rest are help desks of private and public sectors and two fashion institutes. Special help desks of First Women Bank, Smeda, SME Bank, State Bank of Pakistan, PEFGA, EPB, cargo association, FPCCI standing committee for women entrepreneurs have been arranged to facilitate participants.

Products being displayed are ladies fashion garments, children’s garments, home linen, home decor, furniture, jewellery, shoes, leather products, gift products and handicrafts, etc. Two separate halls have been allocated, one for home decor products like furniture, bed linen, gift products, handicrafts, some software, and packaged food products, and the other hall is for garments, accessories and help desks.

It was encouraging to see that women entrepreneurs are participating in the exhibition from far flung areas such as Saidu Sharif, Swat, D.G. Khan, bringing along with them their traditional products like woollen shawls, scarfs, blankets, cotton fabrics, pushmina as well as kundan jewellery.

The EPB has charged Rs2500 per stall but gave special treatment to women entrepreneurs participating from under-developed areas of the country by providing them stalls free of cost. However, some participants complained they were not given this facility, although they also fall under same category.

Handicrafts made of copper by Soul Connection was fascinating to look at as the lady entrepreneur gave modern look to the art- work. The theme of copper products circled around fountains, and, according to the owner Asma Ahmed, it has been done so because water gives a soothing effect and relieve brain from growing stress and strains of the daily life.

There was a stall run by Mrs Ibtasar of Noble Interiors, Lahore. Most of the products she displayed gave orient look with modern touch. Talking to a group of newsmen she said that there is a big market for such interior decoration products in US and Middle East.

However, she insisted that EPB should do more to promote women entrepreneurs’ trade and business activities particularly in foreign countries and take them to international exhibitions.

Samina Fazal of Berries displaying children’s boutique said that she visited US and found that there is a big demand for these products, but the markets could not be accessed without government support and patronage.

The most interesting fact of the exhibitions was display of herbal workshop for skin and hair care run by Zoya Aliem Khan. Most of her exports finding their way to foreign land through accompanied baggage which according to her is more easy to run.

Taking official channels, she said take a lot of time and trouble because as an exporter unnecessary lengthy documentation and procedures have to be followed.

Hina’s Boutique from D G Khan run by Shamsad Farooq was a display of indigenous skill in cross stitching and fabric designing. Neelam Waheed of Al-Tariq Gold was displaying kundan jewellery and was desirous to participate in some world fairs.

However, it was very disappointing that most of the participants were no exporters and they are still catering the need of local market. If proper guidance and patronage is given to women entrepreneur there is a lot of potential and skill which could be converted into economic activity.

Minister of state and EPB chairman Tariq Ikram was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, who visited the stalls and inter- acted with the participants to listen to their views and problem, if any.