KARACHI: UN Women was doing efforts to form a high level platform for economic empowerment of women in Pakistan which will open new avenues to women, speakers said Tuesday. This was stated by speakers at the launching ceremony of a new project titled “Empowerment of women Home based workers (HBWs) and excluded groups in Pakistan. HomeNet Pakistan held the event at local hotel in Karachi. The project with the support of ‘UNWomen’, focuses on the integrated approach to economically empower 5000 home based workers and excluded groups in Sindh. Over all objectives revolves around advocacy with government of Sindh for the effective implementation of HBWs policy and adoption of legislation ensuring their registration, strengthening and enhancing HBWs and excluded groups through skill and capacity development to acquire social security, microfinance and market outreach. Speaking on the occasion, Ume Laila Executive Director HomeNet Pakistan highlighted issues of HBWs which have been the part of different projects of HBWs. She said that after getting approval of the policy on HBWs in Sindh last year, our focus now is to work on proper legislation for home based workers. Mehwish Maria of UNWomen told that Skill development and financial literacy trainings for HBWs will be conducted under this program. “We have collaborated with Labour department and assisting them to digitalize the registration process for HBWs. A website and mobile application for registration process may be developed, she informed. MPA Rana Ansar said that many industries have been closed due to downfall of economy including the small businesses run by women. There is a need to revitalize it all and policies should be women business oriented, she added. Karamat Ali from PILER, Musarrat Jabeen of WDD, Gulfam Nabi Memon, Director of Labor Department, Farhat Fatima also spoke on the occasion. Published in Daily Times, December 20th 2017.