Violence against women major hurdle in mainstreaming of women: Nilofar Bakhtiar

FAISALABAD, Nov 15 (APP):A two-week campaign titled “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” would be held throughout the country from November 25 to December 10.

Former federal minister & ex-International director Lions Club Mrs Nilofar Bakhtiar said this while observing that violence against women was a major hurdle in mainstreaming of women. She was addressing first All Pakistan Women Chamber Presidents Conference which was organized by Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FWCCI) here on Monday.

She said that women, despite being 52 per cent of country’s total population, had small share in mainstream national economy. “Educated and talented women including parliamentarians must use their energies to promote women cause and improve gender equality in Pakistan”, she added.

On the occasion, former president FPCCI Mohammad Adrees said that Islam had given fundamental rights to all women and they must follow the role model of Hazrat Khadija (RA) to become successful entrepreneur and play their role for the uplift of national economy.

He said that FWCCI was established just four years ago but it achieved tremendous progress and was acquiring recognition at national level.
Divisional Commissioner Zahid Hussain said that government was trying its optimum best to facilitate female population. The divisional administration would provide all possible help to FWCCI to undertake different projects for uplift of female population, he added.

Executive Vice President, National Bank of Pakistan Ms Naushaba Shahzad said that State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had taken various measures to provide easy access loan for female entrepreneurs to start and expand their businesses.

She said that at global level bank accounts of female population were at around 86 per cent but this facet was very weak in Pakistan at merely 24 per cent approximately. Ms Naushaba added that SBP offered collateral-free and interest-free loans to female entrepreneurs.

Earlier, President FWCCI Mrs Nighat Shahid said that she had tried to create consensus on important issues confronted by female chambers of commerce and industry.

She hoped that this meeting would help support government in formulation of proactive female policy for early empowerment of female population. President Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Islamabad Samina Fazal, President Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Karachi Syeda Saeeda Bano, President Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lahore Ms. Sam Ali Dada and President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Atif Munir also addressed the function.