Two-week 'Eid Gala' in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa commences

The two-week long "Eid Gala" under the auspices of Women Business Development Centre (WBDC), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Saturday began, aiming to promote women entrepreneur products and development of their businesses in the province. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Industries, Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah formally inaugurated the event.
More than 30 different stalls comprising handmade embroidery work clothes, jewellery, bed-sheets, bags, bangles, decoration pieces and different household stuff were displayed in the exhibition. Syed Ahmad Hussain, while addressing the opening ceremony, said that government is taking measures for economic empowerment of women. He said that women here are very enterprising and skilled in artistic work. He informed that steps have been made for employment generation through introduction of different self-employment projects in this regard. He added that the schemes would be helpful for creation of maximum job opportunities and women's economic empowerment in the province.
He furthered that government's main objective is to take maximum initiatives for women economic development, especially skilled women entrepreneurs, which could be enable them to become economically sound and active a greater position to promote their products. He went on to say that the country's development is not possible sans women economic empowerment and they are contributing a lot in this regard.
The minister lauded the efforts of Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) for development of business activities, especially women entrepreneur-ship in the province. He suggested that that the authority should take such initiative in district Abbotabad as the area is more realistic regarding business activities and assured that provincial government would provide all kind of support in this regard.
WBDC Project Manager, Nabeela Farman, while explaining the aims and objectives of the women business development activity, said that the event prime goal is to provide a platform to women entrepreneurs to showcase their skilled work and develop their business in a better way. It is to convey that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa women are skilled, intelligent and enterprising to compete at every level regarding business development and the environment for this is conducive here, she said. She said that WBDC is playing a pivotal role for promotion and development women entrepreneur-ship and enhancement of their capacity building.
Smeda provincial chief, Javed Iqbal Khattak on the occasion said that they have planned to extend WBDC operational activities in other districts of the province, saying that the idea is under consideration to establish outlets of the centre in district Abbottabad and D.I Khan. He highlighted that Smeda has been playing integral role for promotion and development of business, especially women entrepreneur-ship in order to provide maximum opportunities to them for showcasing their skilled work in a more presentable way. He expressed hope that the establishment of more WBDC centres would not only be helpful to develop women business, but also provide opportunity to promote their products in a better way.
Later, the minister for industries visited different stalls and appreciated the skilled work of women entrepreneurs and assured government's full support to them. President Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sajida Zulfikar and large number women entrepreneurs were also present on the occasion.