Chairperson Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), Shaista Pervaiz Malik Friday said women economic growth and availability of sustainable economic opportunities could play a vital role in widening the paths for women empowerment in a growing society.

She said various aspects of women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan would be taking and their relationship with growth and development so that they could be able to do something for the betterment of their lives.

She said ,”We have taken a number legislative and policy measures that have led to introduction of hundreds of schemes favoring and encouraging women to economically, socially and politically empower themselves in order to not only look after their and their family’s well-being but to also enhance their lifestyles while contributing towards the national development.

Shaista said, “As we all know, gender is associated with disparities between men and women in access to resources, in economic opportunities, and in voice, throughout the developing world, women and men differ in legal, social, and economic rights.”

Some form of disparity due to gender is found in all countries, it hampers men and women in various ways, in access to education and to financial services in opportunities for jobs, entrepreneurship, and agriculture, and in voice at the community, professional, and national levels she added.

Shaista said, “Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Scheme encouraged 50% access to women and girls that, in addition to providing financial resources to start businesses, also offered skill building in business management and in a variety of areas.” – APP