KARACHI: There is a need to encourage women entrepreneurs to enter professions other than livestock, agriculture and enterprise activities.
This can be done through, among other ideas, holding vocational training sessions and short courses to inspire young and educated women, especially the business degree holders in the country.
Despite tall claims, concerned government functionaries have failed to utilise the optimal talents of women and in providing them with financial assistance through banks.
It is important to identify their needs and requirements for a particular trade or business in order to empower them. Thousands of women in urban and rural areas on small and medium level are working in the field of jewellery, onyx, agriculture, livestock, designing and cloth industry.
On the other hand, history of private commercial banks remains dismal in that regard as they had been known to seldom give loans and other financial facility needs to women at low interest rates.
It is a fact that women do not shy away from availing loans and experimenting with new businesses in diverse economic fields along with managing their families.
Also, the ratio of returned loans by women stands better than men.
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is celebrated on every November 19 with the pledge to continue support for women owned businesses.
But, no one at the helm of finance management in the government spoke on the issue, nor any commercial bank came out with loan schemes for women entrepreneurs.
The day commemorates women who continue to rip up the communal typecast and despite all odds, excel as professionals and home makers in developing economies around the world.
Khushhali Microfinance Bank has performed considerably better than its contemporaries in that regard.
28 percent of the bank’s loans have been given to aspiring females to invest in their businesses. This includes 22 percent women from rural and urban sector in Punjab, 4 percent from Sindh and 2 percent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Highlighting different available financial assistance programmes of the bank, Khushhali bank President Ghalib Nishtar said, “our bank has always prioritised policies that support women’s inclusion in the economy. Our loans and savings products have been designed to facilitate female clients to borrow and invest in agriculture, livestock, home based/commercial enterprises and trade”.
“In addition, our savings products also encourage females to move away from informal saving methods and save with us for secure savings with returns. We strongly believe that financial inclusion of women ensures national economic progress and success”, he maintained.
Published in Daily Times, November 22nd 2017.