Adviser to the Prime Minister Nilofer Bakhtiar inaugurating the Women's Expo 2006 on Saturday said: "It's high time to realise the women's efforts in all development works of the country," and urged the women to make themselves economically strong to improve their status in the society.
After recitation from the Holy Quran, one-minute silence was observed to pay homage to those killed in the Nishter Park bomb blast on Tuesday.
Sindh Minister for Women Development Works, Saeeda Malik, ECO of the 4TH Dimension Pvt Limited Mustufa Qayum, Minister of Women Development NWFP Kashif Asam, First Women Bank President Zareen Aziz, Salma Murad and officials of FPCCI, WCCI and KCCI were present on the occasion.
The organisers of the Women's Expo have created 'Hunarmand Aurat Pavilion' at the venue where women artisans from all four provinces displayed their products to the visitors who made purchases with the great interest. Some stall holders said that Karachiites buy things but conduct long bargaining.
Four trains from Quetta, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan have brought around 183 artisans, and about 100 skilled women were from the Sindh. The women entrepreneurs from Britain, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait showed high interest in the idea of holding Women's Expo in Pakistan and showed interest for participation in future.
The Women's Expo was very hectic and organised by the 4th Dimension Pvt Limited in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Women Development.
The Women Expo is being held in four halls at the Karachi Expo Centre where around 400 booths were available for the exhibitors with best products. Over 100 corporate sector exhibitors, 200 women artisans from rural areas and 100 women entrepreneurs from urban areas participated in the Women Expo 2006.
Appreciating the women's role and their efforts in uplift works, Nilofer said that the government had always been supporting and educating the womenfolk of the country. This occasion provided the women from all over the country to gather under one roof and share their opinions independently. "This is an ideal platform; they must take advantage of it," she said.
She said: "We must enjoy this opportunity because the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is a woman. A woman can be prime minister such as Benazir Bhutto and the country has now women pilots also. Why other women cannot improve their lifestyle?"The government is planning to provide one-window facility to women. For that purpose the women, who are not well-educated will be able to get loans from the FWB and Khushhal Pakistan Bank.
The banks will provide loan of Rs 25000-50000. If their work shows promising with the good result, the bank can increase the loan. She also appreciated President Musharraf for extending his co-operation in the women development works. The government will hold women's expo in all four provinces to provide encourage 'Hunarmand Aurat'.
She said that no country can develop without acknowledging the role that the women play.
She said that women's expo practically will help in changing the mindset about Pak women globally and this occasion would play an important role.
Advisor to Prime Minister for Women Development Works said that economic, political and administrate empowerment are basic needs to protect the rights of today's women, not only in Pakistan, but also at the global level. "We have taken several measures to prove it, and today we have gathered to celebrate it. Insha Allah, we will bring down the rate of violence against women. The present government has highlighted the women issues from the grass-roots.
"Women have 33 percent representation in parliament and councils, as ministers, on national commission on status of women and national plan of action to promote womenfolk in the country. It is the first time that women have become aware of their rights like violence against them and other social evils."
On this occasion, Sabahat Tatari of Aga Khan University emphasised the empowerment of the women and said that 31 percent females are on jobs in the Aga Khan University, and AKU is trying to provide more jobs to help in the government plan to provide better facilities of jobs to the women. She urged the women to maintain their health to make their future bright.
Dr Sayada Arfa Zehra, chairperson of National Commission on the status of women, also lauded the role of women and urged them to avail of the better opportunities of education and training at home.
Minister of Women Development NWFP Kashif Azam Chishti asked the women to improve their efforts to get better facilities. Nayana Karunaratne from Sri Lanka focussed on women's health and nutrition.
Seminars and different programmes highlighted the issues, so the even less educated women are able to understand their rights and women pilots are big efforts of the government for the betterment of women which are half of total population of the country.Several thousand women from all over the country had congregated, discussed their issues, shared their concerns, celebrated the identity, achievement and individuality; their contribution in the society and converged efforts toward women development and empowerment.
The interactive platform would help in improving collaboration and bridge gap among government, non-government organisations, corporate and public sectors.
Provincial ministries of women development, Unesco, WHO, UNFPA, Sindh Education Foundation, Apwa, Pawla, Bunyad, Aurat Foundation and school of leadership participated in the Women Expo 2006.
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