Led by Khwendo Kor, entrepreneurs, body will help businesswomen in K-P, FATA. PHOTO: www.khwendokor.org
A meeting was organised at a hotel in the city on Tuesday to establish a network to encourage women to pursue their craft without any hindrances. The event was organised by Khwendo Kor, a non-governmental organisation working in K-P.
It was attended by 50 women entrepreneurs and artisans from Swat, DI Khan, Shangla, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Karak, Frontier Region (FR) Bannu and Kurram Agency. All participants aligned themselves with the cause.
The executive committee comprises five members who will ensure the body functions for the betterment of women entrepreneurs. The members include Khwendo Kor and some of the women who participated on Tuesday.
In a first
“This is the first meeting of its kind,” said Aneela Tajik, the programme manager for the new network. “We have invited representatives from various districts of K-P and Fata.” Tajik, who works at Khwendo Kor, added, “They will mobilise women in their area since it [always isn’t] possible for them to come to Peshawar.”
According to Tajik, women in K-P and Fata are extremely talented but do not have the right exposure to showcase their work. “This meeting aimed to create a network to inform [women] about the market for their products,” she said. “Entrepreneurs were informed about the benefits of e-marketing.”
Amid pitfalls
During the moot, artisans and entrepreneurs also highlighted the challenges they have faced while marketing their products. “It is difficult to find a suitable market,” said Sameena, a resident of Nowshera. “We make products and sell them for a few hundred rupees. However, large outlets sell the same products for thousands of rupees.”
She added, “I want access to more markets so I can handle orders directly.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2016.
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