RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan government plans to set up a market exclusively for women entrepreneurs in the federal capital where they will be able to promote and sell their products, a senior interior ministry official said on Friday.
The decision was made on Thursday after interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed met a delegation from the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) and acknowledged the necessity of including women in economic activity in the country.
“Yes, a market exclusively for women is coming,” an interior ministry spokesperson told Arab News, declining to provide a formal launch date for the project.
Samina Fazil, the founding president of the IWCCI, said it was a “much needed” development which was likely to have a positive economic impact.
“There is no place in Islamabad for women to do business,” she said, adding that high rents at commercial plazas kept women home-bound and forced independent businesses owned by women out of the mainstream.
“These rents are so high that they are not affordable to women who work with their own hands within the confines of their homes,” Fazil added.
She said things had become even more difficult for businesswomen during the coronavirus pandemic since exhibitions and expo events had been cancelled across the country.
“This is why we want a place where women can comfortably run their businesses and sell their wares,” she said.
The IWCCI president said her organization had been communicating with various state institutions and had ultimately reached out to the interior minister to ask for a market area for women entrepreneurs.
“We have now spoken to the Capital Development Authority chairman and asked him if he can do something about this,” she said. “We are hopeful he will get us a place where we will be able to establish a women’s bazaar.”
Fazil added that a market that promoted women-owned businesses would also open new possibilities for young girls and inspire them to become economically independent.
“The market is just the beginning,” she said, adding the initiative was likely to have a positive socio economic impact.
Pakistan plans to set up exclusive market for women entrepreneurs in Islamabad
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Pakistan plans to set up exclusive market for women entrepreneurs in Islamabad
- President Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce says most businesswomen cannot afford high rents at commercial plazas
- Women-owned businesses have suffered during pandemic as exhibitions and expo events were cancelled across Pakistan
Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data
- Visiting Oman royal navy commander calls on Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in Islamabad
- White shipping agreement refers to exchange of prior information on movement of commercial ships
ISLAMABAD: The naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman discussed regional maritime security on Wednesday and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
The press release followed a meeting between Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the visiting Oman Royal Navy Commander Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.
Both navies maintain close professional relations, reflected in expert-level staff talks, joint training, bilateral exercises, and participation in multilateral exercises between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and bilateral naval cooperation were discussed,” the Pakistan Navy said.
The MoU was signed by both sides at a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters, the navy’s media wing confirmed.
“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
White shipping agreement refers to the exchange of prior information on the movement and identity of commercial non-military merchant vessels.
Information regarding the identity of vessels helps countries tackle potential threats from sea routes. This particularly helps in the development of a proper regional maritime domain awareness
The statement said Al Rahbi lauded Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and acknowledged its ongoing contributions to maritime security and regional stability.
Pakistan and Oman share geographical proximity and common maritime boundaries. Bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries span a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and strong defense ties.
In December, a Royal Navy flotilla from Oman visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise.
Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980.
