PESHAWAR: The government should provide grants and loans to the women entrepreneurs on low markup and easy instalments to enable them start their own businesses and play role in strengthening the country’s economy.

This was stated by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Zahidullah Khan Shinwari while inaugurating women business display centre at the chamber here on Wednesday.

The initiative was taken by SCCI in collaboration with the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The centre has been established to enable the women entrepreneurs to market their handicrafts and to support their businesses.

Women’s chamber president Fouzia Inayat, chairperson Fitrat Ilyas Bilour and members of the executive body were present on the occasion.

Mr Shinwari went around the display centre and congratulated the women chamber for its establishment.

He demanded of the federal and provincial governments to play effective role for economic empowerment of the women.

He said that the government should ensure provision of soft loans to women businesspersons from commercial banks.

He also urged the federal and provincial governments to extend grants to businesswomen on the recommendation of SCCI so that they could run their businesses in efficient manner.

Fouzia Inayat and Fitrat Bilour highlighted the aims and objectives of the women business display centre.

They also talked about the problems being faced by the businesswomen and presented demands in this regard.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2018