ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar and Capital Development Authority Chairman Amer Ali assured the businesswomen that they would explore suitable sites in the federal capital for setting up display centres for skilled women.

They were addressing a meeting convened jointly by the special assistant and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman to explore options for supporting Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) under the Ehsaas framework.

Entrepreneurial women leaders from IWCCI and the government’s Ehsaas programme have agreed to collaborate with each other in supporting artisanal women.

The women chamber brought light to the pressing need for the display centre in the capital to showcase and promote the work of skilled women from far flung areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nishtar remarked: “Ehsaas is determined to foster the economic empowerment of women and their uplifting in society. In this context, the display centre will have massive potential.It will help deserving women benefiting from Ehsaas Kafaalat, interest-free loans and asset transfer programmes to overcome the entrepreneurial challenges they come across in Pakistan and develop initiatives to increase opportunities for aspiring women entrepreneurs from underprivileged areas to start and expand their own enterprises.”

The CDA chairman said the authority was excited to support Ehsaas with an expanded focus on empowering the women artisans. The need for display centre is important as it will play a vital role in fostering and promoting women entrepreneurship by creating an enabling environment,” he said.

It was agreed that CDA will soon come up with appropriate options to facilitate the women chamber in opening up Ehsaas entrepreneurial display centres.

From the IWCCI’s side, Samina Fazil, Farida Rashid, Naima Ansari, and Shamim Aftab attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2020