The International Women's Day took centre stage in Lahore on Thursday as people hailing from all walks of life showed their commitment to educating and empowering all females in the country. To mark the day, a series of activities were held in which speakers highlighted the role of women in nation-building and called for extending all types of facilities to women for bringing them in national mainstream.
An awareness walk and symposium was held at Lahore General Hospital which was participated by the doctors, nurses and other female staff and students. Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute and Ameer Uddin Medical College Professor Ghias un Nabi Tayyab, Professor Dr Fakhar un Nisa, Professor Samia Malik highlighted the issues relating to the women community.
The Women Resources Centre of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) arranged a Women Conference at a local hotel. In the event, speakers called for bringing women into mainstream of economic activities with conductive atmosphere so that they can play their role for economic revival.
The event was addressed by the LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Convener LCCI Standing Committee on Women Entrepreneurs, Shamim Akhter, Deputy Chief Manager, State Bank of Pakistan Huma Bukhari, Chairperson Women Commission of Punjab Fauzia Waqar, Nabila Intesar, Nasira Taskeen, Amjad Ali Jawa and others.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President said that women entrepreneurs should be provided same regulatory and institutional framework as their male counterparts have so that they could work in a free market environment. He said that business environment for women entrepreneurs in Pakistan are still not as conducive as it should be.
Malik Tahir Javaid said that products prepared by women entrepreneurs should be allowed concession in taxes. He urged the government to come up with a more comprehensive package for the women entrepreneurs. He was of the view that imparting training to women is a must so that they could grow in a competitive business environment. He said that the private sector would have to work out methodology in this regard to wear off the intensity of present day economic meltdown.
Convener LCCI Standing Committee on Women Entrepreneurs Development Resource Center (WEDRC) Shamim Akhter threw light on the roadmap of Women Development Resource Center in the chamber. She further discussed the plan and roadmap to achieve the objective saying that WEDRC is making all out efforts for empowerment of women. Other speakers paid tributes to all the women who have played their role in different sectors of life. They stressed the need of sensitizing the women community about their rights.
They said economic and social initiatives had made progress in eliminating gender disparity. "No country can be developed without empowering women," they said.
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