PESHAWAR, Dec 18: About 20 girls who completed a training programme on embroidery that was jointly organised by the All Pakistan Women’s Association (Apwa) and Aik Hunar Aik Nagar (Ahan) were assured of loans on Tuesday to set up their own businesses.

The training programme concluded here on Tuesday with a certificate distribution ceremony-cum-exhibition of the clothes, bed-covers and other products prepared by the trainees.

Farah Derwaish, a girl from Ziyarat Kaka Sahib, said she enjoyed the training and would like to start her own business as she had ample time after leaving her education incomplete due to poverty.

“Women in rural areas of the Frontier province have skills and they only need exposure and linking up with other businesswomen running outlets in major cities,” said the provincial chief of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda), Javed Iqbal Khattak.

He added that the Smeda would help the trainees to obtain loans from banks. The Ahan could also help them in this regard.