“Given the
economic opportunities and the social changes Pakistan is faced with, the
importance of equipping women with the right opportunities and resources
through social enterprise is essential if we are to see Pakistan as leading
economy in the near future” said Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Deputy Chairman Planning
Commission while addressing during launch of British Council’s report ‘Activist
to entrepreneur: the role of social enterprise in supporting women’s
empowerment in Pakistan’ here in Islamabad today.
Entrepreneurship and social
enterprise he said are being recognized as central to advancing women’s
economic empowerment and social innovation by setting up their own businesses,
women can become economically independent, build up their assets, and increase
their financial and household security.
Mr. Sartaj Aziz said that it’s great
opportunity that international organizations such as the British Council and
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) are collaborating to stimulate our social enterprise and social
investment systems which will take us a step closer to fulfilling our
commitments to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These SDGs are designed on
three dimensions as economic, social and environmental and recognize that these
dimensions are inter connected. “Contained in the DNA of social enterprises is
the aim of balancing these three dimensions, and we believe that social
enterprise, social entrepreneurship and social investment can play a critical
role in helping to deliver on this important agenda” he added.
He said that Pakistan has one of the
largest youth population in the world with 40% of the total population with
about 20% between the ages of 15 and 24 and according to the latest reports,
about 8.2% of the youth is unemployed whereas situation for young women is even
more worse because of comparatively low literacy levels accompanied by fewer
employment opportunities. In addition, millions of jobs around the world are
expected to disappear due to automation so there is a dire need to cultivate a
system of self-employment, which not only creates jobs but fuels overall
economic activity.
Deputy Chairman Planning Commission
said that the first pillar of Vision 2025 is ‘putting people first’ and we are
heavily investing in growth strategies that ensure inclusive and sustainable
economic development. In this regard, Planning Commission established the
Centre for Social Entrepreneurship in 2015 to promote innovation and enterprise
by serving as a specialist agency for the promotion of social entrepreneurship
in Pakistan.
Mr. Aziz said that it is also
heartening to see the rise of incubators led by dynamic individuals and
universities in Pakistan as this is a step in the right direction. The private
sector will need to invest in Pakistan’s future human resource for their own
and society’s benefit. While extending Planning Commission’s support he said
that commission remains ready to work with any such incubators who are
providing a helping hand to Pakistan’s future entrepreneurships.
Mr. Sartaj Aziz thanked Dr. Shamshad
Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary
of ESCAP for collaboration with the Planning Commission and the British
Council. This collaboration will help in providing leadership, knowledge and
the resources to female entrepreneurships.
