ISLAMABAD, MAR 8 (DNA) – Marriyum Aurangzeb, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting said that no country could develop without the due participation of women and the current government was determined to bring maximum women into the mainstream of national economy.

She added, government was committed to empowerment of women.

She was addressing a ceremony as the Chief Guest that was organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry to celebrate the “International Women’s Day”.

She said that right from Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, women played important role in the independence and development of the country and added that government has envisaged many initiatives to enhance their role in the economic development of the country.

She said that the Government’s principal planning document Vision 2025 recognized expanding women’s participation and access to opportunities as central to sustained economic and social development .

She appreciated ICCI for organizing this important event and added that such events would contribute to the economic empowerment of women.

Speaking at the occasion, Khalid Iqbal Malik, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that women were half of our total population and government should take tangible measures to enhance their role in the national development.

 He said government should offer special incentives to women entrepreneurs in the forthcoming budget. He said providing women easy access to finance and giving them tax incentives would enable them to flourish in business and become job creators for others.

He also highlighted the key initiatives of ICCI for the economic empowerment of women. He said ICCI in collaboration with UNIDO has established a Business Growth Centre to help women entrepreneurs how to start new business and expand existing businesses. =DNA

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