ISLAMABAD:CEO Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Patron-in-Chief, United Business Group SM Muneer has said that government is taking significant steps to empower women which is a prerequisite for the national development.

Government had taken remarkable steps for empowering women in the country while paying special attention to businesswomen in urban and rural areas, he said while speaking at a function organised in his honour by Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI).

President FPCCI Mian Muhammad Idrees, SM Naseer, VP FPCCI Mian Akram Farid, President IWCCI Dr. Zakia Hashmi, founder president IWCCI Samina Fazil and others were also present on the occasion.

SM Muneer said that TDAP and FPCCI will fully support expo being organised by IWCCI on April 18-19 in Islamabad to express our commitment to strengthen the women.

He said that expos are a good tool to empower women and that they would be not treated fairly unless they become economically strengthened and independent.

President FPCCI Mian Idrees said that business community should support women entrepreneurs, strive to end gender discrimination and mobilise the collective strength of women to turn fate of this country around.

FPCCI wants active participation of the private sector to boost capacity of the women to ensure good future for our next generations.

Lauding the initiatives of the government to empower women, he said a lot is to be done to invest in women development without which goal of national development is not achievable.

He said that women are still much more likely than men to be poor and illiterate with little access to medical care, property ownership, credit, training and employment.

Earlier, former VP FPCCI Naima Ansari gave a detailed presentation about the expo saying that different agencies of United Nations, banks, multinationals, mobile operators, embassies, NGOs and CDA have assured participation in the expo.

It will be a great learning, shopping and entertainment experience which will provide an opportunity to women from various backgrounds to share their work and goals towards a prosperous future.=DNA