By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: A delegation from the National Women Journalists Forum, led by its President Farzana Chaudhry, visited the head office of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), where they met with Board Member and Head of the Women Entrepreneurship Sub-Committee, Ms. Asia Sail. The delegation included Farah Warraich, Sadia Salahuddin, Darakhshanda Alamdar, Kanwal Naseem, Rabia Azmat, Nabeela Akbar, Dr. Saima Iqbal, Fauzia Sultana, Zahida Parveen, and Ujala Riaz.
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Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Aasia Sail stated that under the Prime Minister’s SME development vision, empowering women economically and integrating them into the national economy is a key priority. She shared that a comprehensive strategy has been developed in the form of Pakistan’s first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Policy, which has already been submitted to the federal cabinet for approval.
She further highlighted that Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif is committed to providing women with all necessary support, including collateral-free financing opportunities. Since most women-led businesses fall under micro-enterprises, they have now been formally included in SME policy frameworks, along with the development of a dedicated facilitation policy for women.
Ms. Sail emphasized that as a board member, her primary focus is to promote women’s economic empowerment and to turn the Prime Minister’s vision into reality. She noted that SMEDA has already begun practical steps in this direction. She added that at the “Made in Pakistan” SME Expo held earlier this year at Lahore Expo Centre, the largest section featured products made by women. Similarly, at the “Made in Gujranwala” exhibition held recently at Karachi Expo Centre, women entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises received strong institutional support.
Regarding access to finance, she revealed that a proposal for a special endowment fund will soon be presented to the Prime Minister, aimed at removing financial barriers and ensuring easier access to loans for skilled and business-oriented women. On this occasion, SMEDA’s General Manager, Shehryar Tahir, gave a detailed presentation on the facilities and initiatives being offered under the Women Entrepreneurship Policy. Deputy General Manager Tania Butt also highlighted the services of SMEDA’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Cell.
Later, SMEDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Nadia Jahangir Seth, thanked the visiting women journalists and urged them to help raise public awareness about SMEDA’s initiatives under the Ministry of Industries and Production, aimed at strengthening women’s economic independence. Meanwhile, President of the Women Journalists Forum, Farzana Chaudhry, proposed organizing business training workshops for women journalists at the Press Club. It was agreed that such workshops will soon be arranged in collaboration with SMEDA, which is a positive and encouraging development.
