Women Empowerment FPCCI Waives Fee for Women Standing Committees by 50% Atif Ikram Sheikh

Karachi: Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, has waived membership fee by 50 percent for the women standing committees for the tenure of 2024 – 25 to encourage, enable and facilitate business women and entrepreneurs to play an important part in trade, industry, commercial, economic, R&D and policymaking activities.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh maintained that, in exercise of powers conferred by Executive Committee of FPCCI, as President of the apex body, he is pleased to have offered this waiver on the recommendation of Ms. Qurrat Ul Ain, VP FPCCI – who is the vice president of FPCCI for women chambers of commerce & industry (WCCIs).

It is pertinent to note that Ms. Qurrat Ul Ain proposed the waiver on the back of collective feedback she received from WCCIs from across Pakistan.

Mr. Sheikh further said that he is committed to promote women entrepreneurs and workforce during his tenure as neglecting women empowerment, emancipation and participation makes no economic or business sense to him – who account for 52 percent of Pakistan’s population.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh highlighted that women entrepreneurs perform as good as male business leaders vis-à-vis trade promotion and policy advocacy endeavors; nonetheless, in some instances, they even outperform them. Therefore, if all the businesses start hiring women on an equal opportunity basis, they will not be disappointed at all.

FPCCI Chief reiterated his stance on equal opportunities for employment; equality in salary packages; equitable career progression; elimination of harassment; egalitarian working environment and access to finance to encourage the women entrepreneurs.

Brig Iftikhar Opel, SI (M), Retd.

Secretary General