PESHAWAR, Aug 20: Technical expertise is more essential for women entrepreneurs than acquiring credit line for their business projects. This was the crux of day-long deliberations on microfinance for women entrepreneurs.

The programme was organised by the Women Entrepreneurs Development Initiative in collaboration with the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Monday.

The session was convened to discuss the problems being faced by business women in attaining microfinance credit and gave them information about various services, which they can hire for their business development.

MPA Raffat Akbar Swati attributed lack of technical know-how as the major problem, the women entrepreneurs of the NWFP are currently confronted with. She said the women of the NWFP had potential, but the major hindrance was lack of technical education.

She said: “Money is not the only way to success, but technical expertise is more important and it should be focused in the government policies, if it really wants to empower the women.”

The MPA termed lack of awareness among women entrepreneurs about financial services, service providing government agencies and absence of effective associations as the major causes that affected the development of women entrepreneurship.

Javed Khattak, Regional Chief of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority, said financial institutions had problems in delivery mechanism, which ultimately restrict development of women entrepreneurship.

He suggested that the commercial banks should establish microfinance desks for speedy lending of credit and facilitating the women enterprises.

Mr Khattak said that the SMEDA had recently set up a Women Business Development Centre to facilitate business women not only in urban but also in rural parts of the province.

Naeem Bangash, Provincial Head of SME Bank, attributed lack of technical expertise and financial management as the major problems in speedy lending of credit to women entrepreneurs.