Founding and sitting office-bearers of women chambers across Punjab urged the provincial government on Wednesday to provide them with free land to establish permanent offices. During a special meeting at the Regional Office of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in Lahore, the group requested pieces of four and six kanal of free government land for each chamber.
The participants unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the Punjab Government to allocate this land. Under the proposed arrangement, the respective Women’s Chambers would use their own resources to construct the buildings, with a goal to complete the projects within two to three years.
The office-bearers emphasized that these purpose-built facilities should include administrative offices, display centres, an auditorium, a training centre, dedicated exhibition and expo spaces, and a daycare facility. They stated that such infrastructure would provide women entrepreneurs with comprehensive facilities under one roof, strengthen institutional capacity, and create greater opportunities for participation in economic and commercial activities.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh and Regional Chairman and Vice President Zaki Aijaz spoke at the meeting, stating that dedicated infrastructure is essential to empower women economically and enable them to play a greater role in Pakistan’s industrial and commercial development. They observed that women constitute more than half of Pakistan’s population and argued that sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved without their meaningful participation.
The leaders highlighted that Pakistani women possess immense entrepreneurial potential that must be harnessed through access to appropriate platforms, professional training, modern facilities, and equal business opportunities. They further noted that providing permanent office buildings and modern infrastructure would encourage aspiring women entrepreneurs, facilitate business development, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to a stronger and more inclusive national economy.
The office-bearers called upon the Punjab Chief Minister to take immediate action to ensure the allocation of the required land to all women chambers, describing the initiative as a significant step towards promoting women’s economic empowerment and nurturing entrepreneurial talent.
