Govt urged to empower women

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Muhammad Shakeel Munir has said that the government should take policy measures to increase the economic empowerment of women that would set the direction towards gender equality, poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth and enable the country to achieve sustainable development.
He stated this on Thursday, while addressing the last day of Roundtable Conference on Increased Economic Participation of Women Workers and GSP Plus Status organized by ICCI in collaboration with Trust for Democratic Education & Accountability and Women Workers Alliance.
Muhammad Shakeel Munir said that women were half of our total population and bringing more women in the mainstream of economy by increasing their share in the workforce was very important for the better future of the country.
He said that women participation in the workforce in Pakistan was reportedly less than 25 percent while it was over 50 percent in many countries.
He stressed that the government should take policy measures to increase women participation in the workforce that would have a positive impact on the economy. He said that the women should be provided easy access to education, finance and transportation that would increase their independence and economic empowerment.