Govt urged to provide free land for women chambers across Punjab

LAHORE, Nov 11 (APP): The founding as well as sitting office-bearers of women chambers Wednesday urged the provincial government to provide them with pieces of four and six kanal free land for establishment of their permanent offices across Punjab.
This demand was put forth in a special meeting of the founding presidents, presidents, senior vice presidents and vice presidents of women chambers of commerce and industry from across Punjab, convened here at Regional Office of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
The meeting focused on promoting women’s entrepreneurship, strengthening institutional capacity and addressing the key challenges faced by Women’s Chambers across the province.
The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Punjab Government to allocate 4 to 6 kanals of free government land to each Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the establishment of its permanent office. Under the proposed arrangement, the respective Women’s Chambers would undertake the construction of their buildings through their own resources and complete the projects within two to three years.
The participants emphasized that these purpose-built facilities should accommodate administrative offices, display centres, an auditorium, a training centre, dedicated exhibition and expo spaces, and a daycare facility. Such infrastructure would provide women entrepreneurs with comprehensive facilities under one roof, strengthen their institutional capacity and create greater opportunities for their participation in economic and commercial activities.
The office-bearers of Women’s Chambers called upon Punjab Chief Minister to take immediate action and ensure allocation of the required land to all women chambers. They stressed that this initiative would be a significant step towards promoting women’s economic empowerment, nurturing entrepreneurial talent and expanding women’s participation in the business community.
Speaking on the occasion, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh and Regional Chairman and Vice President Zaki Aijaz said that dedicated infrastructure is essential to empower women economically and enable them to play a greater role in Pakistan’s industrial and commercial development
They emphasized that Punjab Government should provide free land to all Women’s Chambers to enable women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and contribute more effectively to the growth of Pakistan’s trade, industry and economy.
They observed that women constitute more than half of Pakistan’s population, and sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved without their meaningful participation. Pakistani women possess immense entrepreneurial potential, which must be harnessed through access to appropriate platforms, professional training, modern facilities and equal business opportunities.
They further highlighted that the provision of permanent office buildings and modern infrastructure would significantly strengthen women’s chambers, encourage aspiring women entrepreneurs, facilitate business development, generate employment opportunities and ultimately contribute to a stronger and more inclusive national economy.