Poverty reduction: UN to support women’s initiatives in Pakistan

Aiming at strengthening entrepreneurial, technical skills of women so they can become more competitive, says UN rep.

ISLAMABAD:

The United Nations has decided to support all the initiatives aimed at empowering women which will help reduce poverty in Pakistan, a senior official said Sunday.

Speaking to women entrepreneurs, Inez Wijngaarde, Senior Industrial Development Officer from United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Headquarters in Vienna, lauded the initiatives of the Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) saying the moves are sending very positive signals around the world, a statement of IWCCI said.

Wijngaarde, who is currently visiting Pakistan to review women empowerment initiatives, said economic opportunities must be expanded for women in order to improve the quality of life of people in Pakistan. “We aim at strengthening entrepreneurial and technical skills of women so that they can become more competitive,”she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2012.