ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has urged businessmen and industrialists to employ women and special persons in their respective organisations.

The president expressed these views while talking to a delegation of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), led by President SCCI, Mr Qaiser Iqbal Baryar, which called on him, at the Presidency on Thursday.

He said differently-abled persons constituted 12-14pc of the country’s population and they needed to be uplifted financially by providing them jobs and equipping them with marketable skills with the special cooperation of the business community.

The delegation briefed the president about the export potential of SCCI and its contributions towards the socio-economic development of the country.

Qaiser Iqbal Baryar apprised the president about certain problems being faced by the business community of Sialkot. President Dr Arif Alvi assured the delegation to help address the issues being faced by SCCI.

Talking to the delegation, the president highlighted that the government was focusing on the empowerment and financial inclusion of youth, women and differently-abled persons and the government, in this regard, had allocated Rs100 billion under the Kamyab Jawan Programme to help them establish their own businesses.

He regretted that, due to lack of awareness, the people were unable to take full benefit of the loans being offered by the government and emphasised the need to facilitate and guide them to avail loans.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2021