Festive occasion: Eid festival allows women entrepreneurs to showcase their work

At least 50 stalls set up where items were put on display

PESHAWAR: With only few days left for Eidul Azha, women are seen thronging markets in the city to shop for the festive occasion.

A day-long Eid festival was held in the city on Wednesday evening to enable women to shop on the occasion. It also allowed women entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their work.

The organisers told The Express Tribune that the event had been designed to ensure women can shop for the occasion.

At least 50 stalls were set up which offered a diverse menu of items such as   henna, jewellery, embroidered clothes, hand-made embroidered purses and hand-made baskets.



A whole range of food stalls were also set up on the occasion.

According to the organisers, women entrepreneurs were asked to display their work on the stalls. The organisers received a favourable response from them and over 1,600 families showed up at the event, said the Babar sisters.

The event allowed women from rural areas, who are often not allowed by their families to open their own shops in the bustling bazaars, to prepare clothes and display them at such events to generate money.

Adviser to CM for Information and Public Relation Mushtaq Ghani encouraged the event.

“The government is working towards improving the most neglected sector – women,” Ghani said.



“NGOs working for women should provide a platform to help those who come from rural areas are to exhibit their work which becomes their source of income.”

Mah Gul, a stall holder from Tehkal, said, “I started my own business three  years ago.

Most women in Peshawar only choose to start a clothing business. That’s why I faced a tough competition.”

She added, “We need more such events where a large number of women can display their work.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2016.