Staff Reporter
An online Eid Shopping Gala, first of its kind, held on Tuesday with a large participation by women entrepreneurs, members of civil society and notable personalites.
The event organized by Femonics, a gender lab with a core objective of inclusive economies, initiated #ShareADate campaign held to inspire people donate for the needy and the poor who lost their jobs during lockdown.
Directors of the Femonics, Mahwish Afridi and Umme Kalsoom in the two hours’ live briefed the audience about Femonics and its main objectives. The exhibition they said presented a unique opportunity for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products.
The session was an endeavour to respond to the current situation, maintain social distance while shop from the comfort of homes besides serving a cause.
The Shopathon also abettedwomen led Micro SMEs to earn in difficult economic conditions and run their households. The exhibitors contributed to the cause by pledging to donate for underprivileged segments of society in the holy month of Ramzan.
Addressing the occasion, Senator Waleed Iqbal appreciated women entrepreneurs’ efforts by quoting the father of the nation Quaid I Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who believed that a country cannot succeed until and unless women play an equal role to uplift its economy.
On behalf of the women entrepreneurs, Mahwish Afridi, requested Senator Waleed to encourage government in announcing a special relief package for the women entrepreneurs to cope up with the adverse effects of the Pandemic. Senator Waleed acknowledged the demand and assured participants that he will take the matter to the Government.
Pakistan sits at embarrassing second last position in the Global Gender Gap Index of 152 countries. Lack of economic opportunities for women fuel this gap. The pandemic shook the economies from their core and pushed the vulnerable components, such as the women working in the informal sectors, under the line of poverty. If women led Micro SMEs are not supported at this crucial juncture of history, Pakistan will furtherslide away from its dream of inclusive economy.
