Women could prove to be game-changers

PCJCCI chief stresses on their role, says handicraft industry remains untapped.

LAHORE: As the country moves on to cement its relationship with China, Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) President Shah Faisal Afridi has stressed on the role women can play in the economy.

He elaborated that in order to boost Pakistan’s handicraft industry, China will prove to be very helpful as it is one of the leading producers of hand-made products with 30% share.

Afridi said the currently handicraft manufacturing industry of China is facing challenges due to expensive labour whereas demand of the traditional handmade products is on the rise.

“Pakistan can launch joint ventures with China on the basis of a buy-back guarantee under which raw material and wages would be provided by China and, in return, market driven handicraft items would be produced by Pakistan.”

According to Afridi, the handicrafts sector is primarily dominated by women. “There is a dire need to tap this segment in order to empower more than 50% population of Pakistan.”

He asserted that revival of the handicrafts industry lies in the development of infrastructure, provision of financial support to women artisans and improved marketing facilities.

He explained that cottage industries occupy an important position especially in rural set-up as traditionally in those areas women are not encouraged to work outside their homes. Therefore, a significant number of women in Pakistan are engaged in handicraft and tailoring activities. For example, up to 30 to 40% women in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are involved in the cottage and handicraft industries.

Afridi suggested that aggressive efforts should be made to promote handicraft and the cottage industries by establishing new industrial estates.

He concluded that economic growth alone cannot guarantee social harmony and gender equity, especially in an under-developed society, national development must be balanced by a strong emphasis on equitable distribution of development benefits.

Published in The Express Tribune, March  19^th,  2015.

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