Govt urged to resolve problems of women entrepreneurs

Islamabad

Founding chairman of Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) Samina Fazil has said that the present government always makes tall claims for betterment of the women but it has so far done nothing to empower them in the society.

"We have approached Secretary Women's Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) Shaista Pervaiz Malik number of times but she only did lip-service and never extended help to resolve the problems of the female entrepreneurs in the capital city," she said.

She pointed out that the chambers of commerce being run by the males are receiving funds from the federal and provincial governments but no government official is ready to extend financial help to the women chamber of commerce.

Samina Fazil said they are giving guidelines to the female entrepreneurs with regard to the basic training, market access and procedures related to get loans on low interests from the government and private banks.

She alleged that a large number of non-governmental organizations are receiving funds from the local and foreign donors for women empowerment in Pakistan but most of these do nothing and use the funds to serve their own interests.

"In all, 12 offices of the women chamber of commerce are providing services to the women   entrepreneurs without getting any kind of financial support from the federal and provincial governments," she said.