Women entrepreneurs from across the country displayed their artwork at a three-day craft exhibition started here on Tuesday. More than 50 stalls, including embroidery and stitching, jewellery, cosmetic, decoration, leather bags, a variety of women's outfits were set up by entrepreneurs from Dera Ismail Khan, Chitral, Mardan, Swat, Haripur, Multan, Peshawar, Islamabad and elsewhere.
Recipients of a UNDP-funded programme called 'Early Recovery Flood Affected Communities' also exhibited their work at the event.
An information desk was also reserved during the trade expo for a World Bank-funded project called 'Economic Revitalisation of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA
The three-day art and craft exhibition titled 'Summer Trade Fair II' was held under the aegis of the Women Business Development Centre in collaboration with the Tourism Cooperation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a local hotel.
Provincial Minister for Industries Samiullah Khan Alizai formally inaugurated the event.
The event was attended, among others, by Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) Mohammad Khurram Khan, General Manager (Outreach) Mohammad Alamgir Chaudhry, Smeda's Provincial Chief Javed Iqbal Khattak, WBDC project Manager Nabeela Farman.
Earlier, Smeda's Acting CEO Mohammad Khurram said that the authority had played a pivotal role for the promotion of small enterprises in the country, particularly focusing on women entrepreneurship.
He said that efforts were being made to develop women businesses through the establishment of women business support centres across the country.
Appreciating the work of skilled women entrepreneurs, he assured that the authority would extend all possible support for the development of their businesses.
Minister for Industries Samiullah Alizai said that the women are playing integral role in the economic development of the country, adding that the government was taking steps for the economic empowerment of women.
Highlighting challenges faced by the provincial government, he said that prolonged insurgency and militancy in the province had posed difficulties, but the situation was improving with the passage of time. He said that it was an opportune time for the revival of economic activities in the conflict-hit province.