‘Pakistan can double its growth through mainstreaming of women’

• PM’s aide says the govt is trying to equip women with proper skills so that they could earn their livelihood and bring qualitative improvement in the socio-economic sector

FAISALABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said on Wednesday that the government was striving hard to empower women, enabling them to play their role in the development of the country.

Addressing a function at Faisalabad Garment City (FGC), he said women make almost half of the country’s total population and the government was trying to equip them with proper skills so that they could earn their livelihood and bring positive and qualitative improvement in the socio-economic sector.

He was optimistic that through the mainstreaming of women, Pakistan could almost double its growth rate, adding that the government was trying its level best to provide maximum facilities at their doorsteps.

He also thanked Japanese cooperation in different fields of life and hoped that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would launch a special programme for the mainstreaming the women.

Speaking on the occasion, Japanese Ambassador Kuninori Matsuda appreciated the skills and talent of women in Pakistan, and assured that his government would continue to support Pakistan in textile, agriculture, education and health and human resource training sectors.

Earlier, addressing the function, FGC Chairman Rehan Naseem Bahara briefed the chief guest about the development of the Faisalabad Garment City and said that it was not only playing its role in the export of value-added textile products but was also providing hundreds of jobs to workers, including a sizeable number of women.

Later, Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood, along with Japanese Ambassador Kuninori Matsuda, inaugurated Female Exclusive Training Institute at the Faisalabad Garment City.

Talking to the media, the PM’s advisor said Pakistani exporters must enhance their efficiency and productivity to compete in the international market instead of depending on subsidies and other artificial supports.

He said the economy was in a bad shape due to ill-planning and ill-conceived policies of the past governments, however, the incumbent government was now trying to put it on the right track through prudent policies.

“Only through improved efficiency and productivity, we could ensure sustainable development on a long-term basis,” he remarked.

Dawood said the framework for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China was being finalized which would further strengthen Pakistan’s economy.

He claimed that owing to positive steps taken by the present government, the output of existing industrial sector had improved.