As we struggle through a recession, more and more women are stepping forward to play their role in adding to their family’s income. Most of them use their domestic skills to start a business venture, such as baking, stitching, pot-making, embroidery, etc. However, despite possessing the required skills, passion, potential and driving force for the betterment of their future, their contribution to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is just a meagre figure at three per cent.

Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that we are well into the new millennium, a woman’s purpose in life, according to many in our society, is giving birth to children, rearing them and tending to household chores. This mindset raises several issues for the woman entrepreneur. She cannot detach herself from her household chores or her childcare duties. Hence she ends up running a double shift.

Mrs Salma, who stitches clothes for local tailors, says, “I don’t remember the last time I had a proper sleep. I cut and stitch around five to six shalwar kameez suits everyday and then I have to look after the kids, clean my house and cook food. I have to perform all of my duties despite my health issues and even then I don’t get appreciation by my family.”

Lack of appreciation by spouse and the rest of the family is a major problem for many women who seek to supplement their household income; it seems as if they earn a different and under-valued form of currency. Instead of being happy and encouraging, people are often embarrassed to admit that a woman from their house is working to support the family. Mrs Najam, who sells unstitched clothes in Karachi by getting them embroidered from rural areas of Punjab, says: “My relatives really like my designs and mostly buy from me; however, when it comes to promoting my product, they are embarrassed to acknowledge to outsiders that some woman from their family is involved in a business. Hence, I face immense trouble in marketing my products. Also, my family discourages me from advertising in newspapers because I start receiving random calls and texts. Now how should I advertise?”

Apart from family pressures, women entrepreneurs also face problems from the market where they usually wind up selling their goods for far less than their worth. Mrs Salma stitches five suits a day and the tailor pays her Rs80 to Rs100 per dress, whereas he receives Rs400 to Rs500 for the same. Mrs Shehla supplies food items to a bakery. However, the rate she is paid is far below what the bakery charges its customers.

Moreover, building a reputation in a field of business requires time and proper marketing which costs a fortune. Mrs Najam says, “Conducting exhibitions is really expensive. Even getting a stall in an exhibition can cost you around Rs6,000 for a day.

Women have huge potential but the government functionaries are simply not eager to tap their resources. Also, the loans offered by government agencies have such a high interest rate that we simply give up the idea of borrowing.”

Running your own business online is one upcoming option; Elegance by Mrs Sahab Faraz is one such example. You can select designs online, specify your budget and she caters to your needs meticulously. However, these options are limited to a very small segment of our population due to illiteracy and lack of access to technology.

The concerned authorities need to expand their microfinance facilities. They should provide loans on cheap-interest rates and introduce qarz-i-hasana such as in Bangladesh. If masses are working at each level, then colossal productivity can be attained; amplified productivity is directly related to increased specialisation, which leads to an evolution in the socio-economic development of both women and society.