Need for women development works at grass-root level stressed

Federal Minister for Women Development, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Tuesday said that we need to do all the women development works at grass-root level, then we will achieve desired target. The federal minister during her first visit to the head office of the first Women Bank Limited (FWBL) appreciated the Bank's efforts for improving the life-style of the women, but, she said that we still need to do more to achieve further improvement.
In the meantime, she said that to get better results in respect of the women development programme, the government is planning to begin Women Policy vision 20/20. Dr Firdous said that for the betterment of the women welfare work we think to make groups of women to make the programme successful, so that they will be able to get the due share in the development programme and in the society, too.
The Federal Minister for Women Development appreciated the role of Firs Women Bank for providing financial assistance to the women entrepreneurs in rural and urban areas. During her visit, other participants suggested that the government must increase numbers of shelters for the needy women and poor children, it is government's duty to provide help to the homeless or beggars.
She also informed that FWBL is facing many kind of challenges like implementation of Basel 11, minimum capital requirement, organisational restructuring and human resource re-organisation. Wherein the Bank looks forward to the government for immediate assistance and support.
The president of the Bank, Shafqat Sultana briefing her about the performance of the Bank, she said that FWBL has contributed towards the growth of women as entrepreneurs and agents of changes. She also said that a number of bank's clients have graduated from small to medium enterprises and the growth continues to corporate. She also said that the bank so far disbursed Rs 28 billion, she said.
She also said that the FWBL's paid up capital stands at Rs 284 million and the shareholders equity at Rs 1093 million, the bank not only provides complete banking service but also some support services exclusively for the women like skill, literacy and other fields, she said. Shafqat said that women come ahead to face new challenges and must try to play positive role in national building programme, specially in social and economic development works.