ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) said that the political turmoil was causing economic instability as already warned by the Finance Ministry and said that ICCI was ready to invite all major political parties for a dialogue on improving the economy as economic revival of Pakistan should be the top priority of all stakeholders. He said this after signing an MoU with Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry at ICCI. By signing the MoU, both parties agreed to work together to resolve the key issues of women entrepreneurs and promote their economic empowerment. Both Chambers will strengthen mutual cooperation to help women entrepreneurs in business development and will raise the common issues of businesswomen at relevant forums for redress. Both trade bodies will arrange exchange of visits of their respective members to discuss matters of common interest.
Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that only 1 percent women in Pakistan were entrepreneurs, due to which the country was not realizing its full economic potential and urged that the government should make policies to encourage and promote women entrepreneurs to ensure robust economic growth of the country. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with RWCCI for promoting the interests of businesswomen.
Ms. Uzma Shahid Butt, President, Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that growth of women entrepreneurs was very important for sustainable economic development of Pakistan. However, she said that women were facing multiple issues including lack of easy access to finance for establishing businesses. She urged that the government should address the key issues of women entrepreneurs to enhance their role in the economic development of the country. She hoped that the collaboration between ICCI and RWCCI would help in promoting the interest of businesswomen for their better economic empowerment.
Ms. Hina Mansab Khan, Group Leader, RWCCI stressed that the government should take measures to overcome the barriers for women entrepreneurs and encourage more females towards entrepreneurship for inclusive economic growth of the country. She said that ICCI and RWCCI should make joint efforts to develop recommendations for the government to accelerate business activities, investment and exports.
Jamshaid Akhtar Sheikh Senior Vice President, Muhammad Faheem Khan Vice President ICCI, Zubair Ahmed Malik former President ICCI & FPCCI, Parveen Khan Durrani, Neelam Khalid, Nasira Ali and members of RWCCI also spoke at the occasion and called upon the government to make conducive policies for economic empowerment of women.