KARACHI, Nov 21 (APP): Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QWCCI) Quetta urged the government to work on strategic methods for bringing women in the mainstream of the economy.

Addressing a workshop on Monday, WCCI Founder President and Former VP FPCCI, Fehmida Jamali said shifting of Chinese handicrafts industry to Pakistan can play a momentous role in empowering Pakistani Women.

Currently, the handicraft manufacturing industry of China is facing challenges due to expensive labour, whereas demand of the traditional handmade products is on the rise, said a news release issued here.

Therefore, it would be very beneficial for Pakistan to initiate joint ventures with China in the handicrafts sector on the basis of buyback guarantee, under which the raw material and wages would be provided by China and in return market driven handicrafts items would be produced by Pakistan, she said.

Fehmida said that the handicrafts sector is the only sector having direct linkage with the skills of women. So, there is a dire need to tap this segment in order to empower more than 50 percent population of women in Pakistan.

Cottage industries occupy an important position, especially in the rural setup, as traditionally in those areas women are not encouraged to work outside their homes, she said.

Therefore, a significant number of women in Pakistan are engaged in handicrafts and tailoring activities. For example, up to 30 to 40 percent women in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are involved in the cottage and handicraft industries, fehmida said.

The handicrafts of Pakistan have fascinated the world by its creativity, aesthetics and exquisite craftsmanship, previously, nearly 65 percent of women earned their livelihood from handicraft work, but the rising cost of inputs, difficult access to credit and poor marketing network, have brought the industry to its present dismal state, she added.

President WCCI Quetta Mukhtar Fatima said the economic growth alone cannot guarantee social harmony and gender equality, especially in an under-developed society; national development must be balanced by a strong emphasis on equitable distribution of development benefits.

Women empowerment is impossible without the economic participation of women and for this, women has to be encouraged to take part in business and entrepreneurship.

Fatima said revival of the handicrafts industry lies in the development of infrastructure, provision of financial support to artisans, establishment of direct links between buyers and artisans, elimination of middlemen and improved marketing facilities.

Though the range of handicraft products included Ajrak, ceramics, articles made of date leaves, farassi rugs, jandi, khes, musical instruments, caps, straw products, bangles, crucia work, embroideries, kashi, rilli, Thari carpets and woodcarving, she added.

She said it not only provide additional employment and raise the standard of living for both rural and urban populations but also prevent migration from rural areas to the cities. “President WCCI Quetta also said CPEC could help Baluchistan Handicrafts industry to export its finished products to China and CIS states”.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 21 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday expressed her deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of world famous Pakistani mountaineer, Hassan Sadpara.
In a statement, she said that Sadpara was a leading mountaineer and hero of the nation.
She said that Hassan Sadpara’s contribution in the field of mountaineering would be remembered for times to come.
She prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 21 (APP): Minister for Commerce Engnr. Khurram Dastgir Khan on Monday said that Pakistan being member of WTO has extended Most Favoured Nation (MFN) to all WTO countries except for India and Israel.

Replying to a question in the National Assembly, he said the extension of WTO is a reciprocal measure therefore the other 163 WTO members have extended MFN status to Pakistan.

In the case of MFN treatment Pakistan enjoys non-discriminatory market access to these countries, he added.

He said in 2015-16 country’s overall trade was US$ 62.324 billion out of which Pakistan’s export were US$21.98 billion and imports were US$ 40.34 billion.

To another question the minister said that United States of America (USA) is the largest export destination for Pakistani goods.

Total exports for the year 2015-16 were US$ 3.5 billion whereas bilateral trade for the same period was US$ 5.3 billion, he added.

He said on June 25, 2003 Pakistan and USA had signed Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), under which both countries meet and discusses issues of mutual interest with objective of improving cooperation and enhancing opportunities for trade and investment.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 21 (APP): Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday said that 10,000 MW would be added in national grid till 2018 and it would help to remove power loadshedding from the country.

Talking to a private news channel, the minister said the government had planned to induct about 10,000 MW of electricity from coal and gas resources.

He said the country has been facing 5000 MW power shortage and the energy would be surplus till 2018 as the government has launched various power projects in the country to meet energy demands.

He said,”We were particularly focusing on addition of low-cost
electricity to the national grid to meet the increasing energy requirements.”