How do you see women entrepreneurs in Pakistani society - a developing nation; as wastage of efforts or a real push in the growth of economy? Discuss.
ANSWER:
The issue that is preventing entrepreneurial growth in Pakistan is that the women are not given the opportunity to start a venture and nurture it into a successful business. Women are looked as the "food-makers" rather than the "food-earners." However, research does show that those women who have been given the chance and the proper resources have worked to become strong entrepreneurs. As an increasing number of women are fighting for their right to enter into the business world, entrepreneurship amongst women is giving rise to some excellent business ventures. Inherent attitudes of a patriarchal society, that men are superior to women and that women are best suited to be homemakers, create formidable challenges. Women also receive little encouragement from some male family members, resulting in limited spatial mobility and a dearth of social capital.
The ILO research on women entrepreneurs in Pakistan has shown certain leak points gaps in the development of women entrepreneurs and has emphasized and recommend for actions needed to be taken in order to encourage and promote women entrepreneurship. The research shows that women has to face certain hurdles like gender discrimination, lack of safety, family and traditional restrictions, lack of access to education, market, business premises and other require tools for getting into and starting the business. Moreover there aren't any proper constitutional structures, policy documents, regulatory arrangements and institutional mechanism that can support or acknowledge women entrepreneurship in Pakistan.
However beside all the barriers and hurdles it is a please to note that Pakistani society is increasingly accepting businesswomen. Research has shown that 32% of women entrepreneurs believed that the general perception women in business had improved. Further certain organizations such as First Women's Bank Limited (FWBL) are also established to cater solely to the financial needs of women entrepreneurs. Its mandate was to improve the socio-economic status of women in both urban and rural areas by creating opportunities for their development through enhanced economic participation. The research also shows that there are 47% of women entrepreneurs in textiles industry, 42% in private institutions and 27% of women are contributing in the half of the household income.
The research on government policies has shown that in order to involve women in productive economic activities, including exports, the Ministry is moving forward on a broad-based programmed in collaboration with the private sector. An Export Trade House and Display Centre each has been established at Lahore and Islamabad. Similar ventures are proposed at Karachi, Muzaffarabad and other major cities. To facilitate women entrepreneurs in their business activities both local and foreign, Business Centres in collaboration with the First Women Bank Limited (FWBL) have been established at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Similar Centres are planned for Quetta, Peshawar and other major cities. These results show that efforts of women entrepreneurs are not of waste of time and they are contributing to push in the growth of economy. However these contributions can be made more significant, it is suggested that in order to foster development, multi-agency cooperation is required. The media, educational policy makers and government agencies could combine to provide women with improved access to business development services and facilitate local, regional and national networks. This would help integration of women entrepreneurs into the mainstream economy.
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