Entrepreneurs’ exhibition: Working women get their national day

Twenty-two women entrepreneurs display their work at exhibition aimed at offering career opportunities.

LAHORE: The working women of Pakistan now have a day dedicated to them. Welcoming a growing number of working women in the country, First Lady Fauzia Gillani announced on Sunday November 22 will  henceforth be celebrated as the National Day of Working Women.

The announcement came at the third and last day of the Women Entrepreneurs Furniture Exhibition at the Pearl Continental Hotel.

The exhibition organised by Furniture Pakistan (FP), aimed at offering career opportunities to women. Twenty-two women entrepreneurs from across the country were invited to display their work.

Funded by the United Nation Industrial Development Organisation and Pakistan Stone Development Company, a subsidiary of the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation, the exhibition was praised by the participants as a unique platform to display their work.

The products ranged from beds to doors to decorative art.

Furniture Pakistan chairperson Yasmeen Rehman commended the creativity and efforts of the participating entrepreneurs as well as the students. She said that the furniture industry in Pakistan had a long way to go and so did the working women. “The government is realising the endeavours of our women and are working towards making them an empowered class of the society.” She said the government had already increased the women’s quota in civil services to 10 per cent.

Sadia Wahab, the representative of a participating company, said that the exhibition had not only provided an opportunity to see where the industry was heading, but also an opportunity to meet new clients.

At the mosaic stall, Nazia, the export manager of the company said that such events gave individuals and companies a chance to grow bigger and better.

Ayatullah Durrani, the state minister for industries, was also present. He said, “Finally in Pakistan, a carpenter has become important enough to sit next to the First Lady.” He promised to make the efforts of working women productive by expanding the industries.

Shahzad Ansar, the FP CEO, said that the percentage of women entrepreneurship in Pakistan was very low.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th,  2011.