KARACHI, Sept 10: Sindh Minister for Women Development Dr Saeeda Malik said on Wednesday that economic empowerment of womenfolk in Pakistan is the most effective and viable tool for overcoming illiteracy and the never-ending cycle of poverty from the country which is retarding our growth since long.

“The government has evolved many ambitious projects in this respect, some of which have already been implemented, as equipping them with education and technical skills would help them making self-sufficient”, she said while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a two-day workshop on “Advocacy on Women Rights and enhancing their status through micro-entrepreneurs” which commenced here on Wednesday.

The occasion was organized by the Working Women Multipurpose Co-operative Society, in collaboration with Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education and Social Welfare.

The aim and objective of the workshop is creating an awareness among womenfolk about their rights, enhancing their status through small trade and successfully pursue career in small trade, besides generating perception among them about their basic rights.

An overwhelming number of women hailing from government and non-governmental organizations besides from media attended the workshop and presented their papers about ameliorating plight of womenfolk in the country.

The minister, explaining endeavours of her ministry to create vast employment opportunities for women and providing them a chance to display their knack, said the department had chalked out different programmes for provision of ample opportunities with the objective to enable them play their due in country’s economy.

Earlier, President, Working Women Multipurpose Co-operative Society, Shahida Sajden, in her welcome address highlighted the need for more opportunities for womenfolk in the economic field. Prominent among those who also spoke included DG of Women Development, Sohaila Asif, Director Women Development Farzana Saleem, Dr. Nasir Jawaid and others.—PPI