President calls upon business chambers to help women entrepreneurs secure loans
President Dr. Arif Alvi has called on business chambers to
actively support women entrepreneurs in securing low-interest loans from banks
and to increase the recruitment of female workers in various industries.
During his address at the Women and Young Entrepreneurs
Recognition Ceremony organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (ICCI), President Alvi praised the allocation of substantial business
loans with low-interest rates for women entrepreneurs by banks.
State
Bank of Pakistan (SBP) extends zero-interest loans to empower women
entrepreneurs
Highlighting the importance of female representation in
decision-making roles, President Alvi encouraged female parliamentarians to
advocate for women's empowerment and help them access financing opportunities.
He acknowledged that banks were offering loans of Rs 1.5 million at a five
percent interest rate.
Expressing appreciation for the increased representation of
women in the workforce, President Alvi noted that 20 to 40 percent of employees
in both the State Bank and private banks were now women. He urged business
chambers to follow suit and encourage their members to hire more women in their
workplaces.
President
urges banks to implement positive policies for persons with special needs
Drawing attention to the need for creating a harassment-free
environment for women, President Alvi cited the positive example set by the
football industry in Sialkot. He emphasized the importance of providing women
with secure transport facilities and a conducive atmosphere.
President Alvi extended the call for inclusive employment
practices to persons with disabilities, aiming for social upliftment and
overall progress.
Drawing inspiration from China's success in lifting millions
out of poverty through investments in health and education, President Alvi
stressed the need for innovative solutions to address Pakistan's educational
challenges. He proposed using mosques as centers for educating out-of-school
children and providing basic health services to combat prevalent diseases.
Mobilink
Bank leads the way in empowering women entrepreneurs
While acknowledging Pakistan's success in managing the
COVID-19 pandemic, President Alvi highlighted emerging challenges in mental
health and drug abuse. He urged parents to be vigilant and address signs of
hyperactivity, sleep disturbances, or increased financial requests from their
children.
During the ceremony, President Alvi presented shields to
female and young entrepreneurs in Islamabad. ICCI President Ahsan Bakhtawari
and other business leaders shared insights into their chamber's achievements
and discussed challenges faced by the industrial and commercial sectors.
Source: APP