Government must start viewing trade, economy through gendered lens: Dastgir

Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir said on Wednesday that Pakistan must start viewing trade, business and economy through a gendered lens and provide specific opportunities to women and let them realise potential and lift the economy to new heights.
He was addressing a seminar 'She Trades' organised by the Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with International Trade Centre (ITC). Executive Director ITC Arancha Gonzalez and Minister for IT Anusha Rehman were also present at the seminar. The commerce minister and ITC Executive Director also addressed a press conference wherein they acknowledged that women are not being ensured equal opportunities in trade right from the issuance of identity cards to get loans from banks.
Commerce Minister said he would soon convene a meeting of banks officials and request them to announce funding for the women who are willing to start business. It was also acknowledged that both, the women and small and medium enterprises face similar problems.
Khurram Dastgir said this step would be initiated at the platform of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), adding that the organisation which is just limited to organise or facilitate entrepreneurs in trade fairs in foreign countries, would help small and medium enterprises to access exporters.
He said a study would also be conducted to expand the function of TDAP to facilitate women entrepreneurs. The commerce minister further stated that India has used trade policy for poverty alleviation from the country, adding that millions of Indians have come out of the poverty circle. He was of the view that the trade policy is not meant to generate revenue.
He said 'She Trades' is a global initiative that seeks to empower women through trade and it is a matter of pride that Pakistan, with an ever-increasing number of women entrepreneurs finding their way into global business, offers a huge potential in terms of increasing women's participation in the international and domestic economies.
The commerce minister said Pakistan stands firmly behind the commitments made under the 'She Trades' seminar to connect half a million women to the market by 2020 and also supports new commitments for connecting one million women to the market by the same year.
Minister of State for IT, Anusha Rehman while participating in panel discussion in the seminar stated that it is not the duty of a few women to work for the women empowerment; instead, it is everyone's obligation to contribute in this larger global agenda of inclusiveness and women empowerment.
She told that the government has started special programmes under which 150 ICT labs will be established that will impart training to girls in coding and computing and they would be able to earn an honourable livelihood while sitting at their homes. Similarly, the government is initiating a pilot project under USF for the women of underdeveloped areas and in the first phase, 30,000 women registered with BISP will be provided android phones with balance and training to materialise the digital inclusion, said the IT minister.
Anusha Rehman proposed that by using this platform, the Ministry of IT is ready to work in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce and trade organisations for training of the women of rural areas who work from their home to eliminate the role of middle man.
Executive Director ITC, Arancha Gonzalez said the purpose of her visit to Pakistan and organising this 'She Trade' seminar is to work with the government of Pakistan for the women's economic empowerment. She further said that government of Pakistan must enact fair policies that are gender sensitive, ensure quality and accurate data system, secure government contracts for women, strike business deals with women and give them market accessibility, unlock financial services for women and grant them ownership rights.
Gonzalez said that Pakistan has huge potential and as Pakistan has moved towards normalcy the time is ripe for the government to work for the empowerment of women through trade.
"I will monitor progress on commitments being made by the Pakistani government and visit again next year to review it," Gonzalez said adding that she was ready to support those who will use trade for poverty alleviation.