Daily Times

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) is yet to provide much-needed and promised skills development training to women entrepreneurs in the country, people in the marble and onyx sector lamented.

Women in the country have potential to contribute their business expertise in economic growth. There is dire need to concentrate on women skills development. In this regard skill development programmes should be made tailored designed to establish enterprises for respectable earning and poverty reduction in remote areas in particular.

It is worth mentioning that Creative Entrepreneurship for Women project of PASDEC had claimed for a visible change in women marble sector, but there were not much improved signs so far.

Representatives of All Pakistan Marble Mining, Processing, Industry and Exporters Association were of the view that the marble mosaic, crafts and inlay, sub sector of marble and granite of Pakistan have vast potential for women entrepreneurship development, skill development, employment generation, entrepreneurial culture and creation of value added products including decoration pieces and furniture from marble waste.

After December 2014, PASDEC made no improved progress in this particular sector and much was needed to take into account for betterment of marble women workers.

The wastage of marble is artistically used as raw material for mosaic, crafts and inlay making, available in huge quantity contributes to high profit margin.

An official of Ministry of Industry said though helping marble industry it was ready to facilitate the women entrepreneurs of marble mosaic, inlay and crafts for disposal of their products.

No further improvement has been seen in providing information and skills o concerned players about mosaic activities in the country.

An official of PASDEC identified the marketing obstacles of marble mosaic products and stressed to facilitate the women entrepreneurs for searching market orders.

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority also highlighted women business development and entrepreneurship benefits to socio economic development.

There is need that economist and builder to point out key points of promoting marble mosaic like enhancement of training duration of marble mosaic, value addition, quality and supply assurance to customers.

Free space for establishing display centre of CREW project remained unfulfilled.

The working women of marble and granite sector said PASDEC should facilitate trainees for establishing their enterprises. In this regard joint venture with private sector should also be initiated.

We intend to support women for empowerment and self-employment opportunities. Core issue was searching demands of the market. There is need to cooperate with trainees displaying their products at their business places and giving orders of the products, a PASDEC official added.