As published in the Daily Times, Pakistan
By Zeeshan Javaid

ISLAMABAD: For empowering more than 52 percent of total population of the country’s female faction, an international financial agency, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would provide skilled education to more than 75,000 women under five-year Entrepreneurs Project Plan (EPP) by 2014 in the areas affected by war against terror as well as natural disaster in the country.

Speaking on completion of one hundred years of International Women Day, a senior representative of USAID Dr Marilyn Wyatt said gender inequality is evident in the employment sector and it leads to very limited opportunities for women to venture into domestic markets with their own businesses.

Elaborating the different projects initiated by the agency for empowerment and motivation of Pakistani women, she said USAID has been endeavoring to change through its Entrepreneurs programme in various districts across the country.

“We are creating business and livelihoods prospects for large number of women and USAID already made a breakthrough in the economic revival of 7,200 conflict affected of people in Swat, of which 60 percent are women micro-entrepreneurs.” she added.

According to USAID Pakistan Economic Perfor-mance Assessment reports by 2009, only 19.6 percent women of total population of female faction participated in the workforce and in rural areas the number falls to 8.4 percent.

Another official of the agency said the purpose of the Entrepreneurs Project is to significantly increase the incomes of at least 75,000 micro-entrepreneurs and small enterprise owners, with particular focus on women by 2014.

She said through forging stronger links to profitable markets, the project aims to substantially increase incomes of these women micro-entrepreneurs and certain project would also help the livelihoods recovery process in areas affected by conflict and natural disaster.

She maintained USAID is committed to providing development assistance that improves the lives of women, men and children around the world. USAID has a special interest in the advancement of women worldwide and is working to improve women’s equality and empowerment not only because it is just, but because it is necessary for successful development.

According to official statistics, total workforce in the country stood at more than 50 million, of whom 39 million are employed, under a definition of working for at least one hour per day. However, of this figure, a staggering 31.6 million are men and only five million are women, while most women are working in the informal sector, which is not recognized or accounted for when surveys are carried out.

Women are continuing to suffer at the workplace and they are still lower paid than men and are completely abused in some cases. According to a survey by the NGOs, some 77 percent of women in employment countrywide are in the informal sector, where jobs have been often badly paid, with no legal protection, and poor working conditions.

USAID’s support for programs in democracy and legal reform, girls’ education, maternal and child health, and economic growth improves the status of women and has enhanced. The opportunities in Pakistan in the past few years The event was organised by USAID through its Entrepreneurs Project implemented by MEDA, an active International NGO in economic development and related sectors.

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Stepping Into Success - Women Micro-Entrepreneurs In Pakistan
Islamabad - March 8, 2011

Glimpses of the International Women's Day celebrations organized by USAID and MEDA at Lok Versa, Islamabad. Dr. Maryilyn Wyatt USAID representative, Ms.Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto, Provincial Minister and members from other prestigious organizations also graced the event.