Women entrepreneurs: programme to recognise supportive spouses

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Women entrepreneurs: programme to recognise supportive spouses

KARACHI (January 09 2010): The USAID has launched a programme to recognise the supportive spouses of women entrepreneurs. A statement issued here on Thursday termed this as an innovative gender integration initiative called "The Spouse Appreciation Programme". It said that the event was co-organised by the South Punjab Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SPWCCI) and the USAID/Pakistan FIRMS Project.

The Spouse Appreciation Programme was one of the first activities to result from an MoU signed between SPWCCI and the USAID Pakistan FIRMS Project on December 18, 2009, in which both parties agreed to support each other in their institutional commitment to enhance women's participation in the economic mainstream.

The statement said that the event was attended by members of SPWCCI, their spouses, representatives of USAID's FIRMS Project, and noted public and private sector personalities. The award-winning spouses were Pirzada Mian Qamar Abbas, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haq Nawaz, Syed Shoaib Akhtar, and Anwar Shahzad.

The selection criterion for the award were the inspiring stories, of women entrepreneurs who had been supported by their spouses for venturing into the business world and working their way through odds to achieve success. The Spouse Appreciation Programme is premised on the fact that women entrepreneurs who are supported by their husbands receive a head start in their ventures, as spousal support is the best-kept business secret for women coping with unfavourable social and cultural condition.

The statement further pointed out that the objective of the USAID/Pakistan FIRMS Project is to improve government service delivery and develop dynamic, internationally competitive firms to accelerate sales, investment, and job growth to undercut the basis of extremism. It said that the synergies between SPWCCI and USAID's FIRMS Project will further women's economic participation and empowerment in Pakistan.