Sindh governor stresses giving women equal growth opportunities

Says they constitute half of the country’s population but their contribution to the economy remains small

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has said that females were presented with fewer opportunities to progress, despite them proving to be more talented and committed in professional and academic spheres.

Expressing these views at the 2nd Overseas Investors Chambers of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) Women Empowerment Awards at a hotel on Tuesday, he said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government was making all-out efforts to empower women socially and economically.

The awards ceremony commenced with a welcome address by OICCI President Shazia Saeed, who said that the chamber had taken the initiative to hold the awards in 2017, so as to recognise companies contributing towards empowering women, providing them jobs at top positions, organising training sessions for them and ensuring female-friendly work environment. The awards also recognise companies working to promote female literacy and imparting vocational training to aspiring women entrepreneurs, she added.

Saeed informed the attendees of the ceremony that the body plans to continue with the series of award ceremonies in the coming years with increased participation by various companies, adding that public and private sector organisations and members of civil society would have to work together for maintaining gender balance on social and economic fronts.

Female frontliners upend Hong Kong gender stereotypes

Ismail too stressed the importance of gender balance, saying that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted increased participation of women in economic and social arenas.

Females constitute half of the country’s population but their contribution to [its economy] remains small due to low female literacy rate, lack of participation in professional trainings, less exposure, fewer job opportunities and lack of financial means to start their own businesses, the governor said.

He informed the audience that in order to ensure increased participation of women in the business sector, the government had launched a short-term financing scheme, with an upper limit of Rs5 million. Those applying for this scheme wouldn’t have to pay loan collateral and markup on these loans is also kept low, so that even small women entrepreneurs may benefit from the scheme, he explained. The governor proposed on behalf of the federal government to organise presentations at OICCI to apprise women entrepreneurs how they may benefit from the loan scheme.

“OICCI should become a part of this scheme aimed at the economic empowerment of women,” he said.

Ismail said that he attended various events at different universities, including convocation ceremonies, in the capacity of the chancellor of varsities in Sindh, and over 70% award winners at these events were females. “Women can do miracles if they are presented with equal opportunities,” he added, stressing that men should help them progress and move forward.

The governor appreciated OICCI for taking the initiative of holding women empowerment awards, saying that it would encourage companies to work towards the same purpose.

Later, he distributed awards among the representatives of the winner companies.

Awaran’s arrested women released from Khuzdar jail

The top-most award, titled Champion of 2019, was won by Unilever Pakistan and awards for first and second runners up were given to Procter and Gamble Pakistan and Telenor Pakistan respectively. Besides, seven companies, including RB Pakistan, Gender Balance Workforce, Nestle Pakistan, GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan, Philip Morris Pakistan, Total Parco Pakistan and Pak Brunei Investment, were given prizes titled Special Recognition Awards.

A panel discussion was also held following the award ceremony. The panellists engaged in a dialogue focused on identifying ways to empower women. They emphasised the need for the government, the private sector and members of the civil society to take concrete steps for bringing a change and working towards improving female literacy. They also pointed out that women face harassment at work and while travelling, which poses a hurdle in the way of their socio-economic activities and progress.

Former presidents of OICCI, Zafar Khan and Asif Mumtaz, and 200 representatives of different companies attended the event.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2019.