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1 ECONOMICREFORM Feature Service April 29, 2011 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: The Impact of the 2006 Trade Organizations Ordinance in Pakistan Anna Nadgrodkiewicz Global Program Officer Article at a glance Prior to 2006, women entrepreneurs in Pakistan lacked effective representation in trade associations and were not able to form chambers of commerce. The 2006 revised Trade Organizations Ordinance for the first time allowed women to form their own chambers of commerce and mandated that at least two women must sit on the boards of directors in all of Pakistan s regional chambers. There are now 60 women board members in Pakistan s chambers and eight women s chambers have been registered, including some in conservative areas such as Mardan, Peshawar, and Quetta. To comment on this article, visit the CIPE Development Blog: th Street, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC ph: (202) fax: (202) forum@cipe.org

2 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Overcoming Legal Barriers to Women s Economic Participation The World Economic Forum s Global Gender Gap Report measures the magnitude and scope of gender-based disparities among countries in four key categories: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. In 2010, Pakistan ranked 132 out of the 134 countries evaluated, and scored 133rd lower than Saudi Arabia and ahead only of Yemen in terms of economic participation and opportunities for women. 1 This jarring gender participation gap is also evident in national statistics. Women account for 52 percent of Pakistan s population, yet only 3 percent of them are involved in economic activities in the formal sector, according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics. Apart from factors such as the acute dearth of knowledge and business education among women and cultural norms that make it difficult for women to work outside their homes, one important reason for women s absence in economic activities had been the lack of women s business networks and chambers of commerce. Many chambers of commerce exist in Pakistan; however, their membership is predominantly male. Until 2006 there was no legal way for women entrepreneurs to form their own chambers that would be uniquely suited and responsive to their needs. Prior to 2006, the 1961 Trade Organizations Ordinance (No. XLV of 1961), amended in 1997 (No.5 (2/97-TO-I)), governed the formation and operation of chambers of commerce and business associations in Pakistan. This outdated law did not correspond to the modern business environment and did not reflect the true voice of entrepreneurs in the country. In late 2005, the Center for International Private Enterprise s (CIPE) Pakistan office began a dialogue with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Ministry of Commerce in order to reform this law. In April 2006, the Ministry of Commerce created a six-member committee to review the 1961 Trade Ordinance and recommend changes through a consultative process. The Ministry invited CIPE Pakistan to fill one of the positions on this committee and advise on best practices and various international business association models. 2 On CIPE s recommendation, the six committee members traveled across Pakistan and, over a period of eight months, met with more than 150 representatives from various chambers and sectoral associations. Based on the input from these stakeholders, the committee drafted legislation that they presented to the Minister of Commerce on November 15, After adding a few amendments, the new Trade Organizations Ordinance was promulgated by the President of Pakistan on December 31, 2006 and publicly issued on June 5, This law enhanced freedom of association and created new self-governance mechanisms for chambers and associations. It also requires a transparent election process and the appointment and development of professional management within all trade bodies in Pakistan. This legislative change had a significant impact on 152 business associations with more than 350,000 members by allowing them to obtain licenses from the Ministry of Commerce. Revisions to the voting rights and re-registration requirements also eliminated more than 30 defunct chambers. Crucially for women entrepreneurs, the 2006 Trade Ordinance also compelled all regional chambers to induct women members onto their boards and allowed for the creation of women s chambers of commerce. There are now 60 female board members in regional chambers and eight women s chambers have been registered, including some in conservative areas such as Mardan, Peshawar, and Quetta, areas generally regarded as challenging for women s rights. 2

3 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Making the Voice of Women Entrepreneurs Heard The enactment of the new law was the first step in the economic empowerment of Pakistan s women entrepreneurs. However, sustained efforts were necessary to ensure that the Ordinance was implemented in practice. Equally important was the imperative to ensure that, once formed, women chambers would have the capacity to govern themselves, effectively address the needs of their members, and represent their interests. In 2007, CIPE organized a roundtable on Women Entrepreneurship Development, engaging over 100 women from across Pakistan in a policy dialogue. Participants indicated that the lack of gender-focused business organizations and weak representation of women in existing chambers of commerce helped to explain the persistent lack of women s participation in mainstream economic activities. CIPE subsequently worked on entrepreneurship development programs for women with the Sarhad Chamber in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province (previously called the North-West Frontier Province) and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Punjab Province. As a result, women s membership in the Sarhad Chamber increased from six to 210 members in one year and the Lahore Chamber created a Women Resource Center that serves over 525 women members by conducting workshops, seminars, and exhibitions. CIPE also published a Pakistan-specific guide for women entrepreneurs who seek practical advice on starting and growing a business. 4 Such efforts resulted in the creation and formal registration of eight women s chambers, six of which are featured below based on interviews with their leaders. CIPE continues to support the development and operations of women s chambers in Pakistan. In June 2009, CIPE organized a Women Leadership Conference in Lahore. It brought together over 150 women leaders from across Pakistan representing businesses, the public sector, community development, and academia. The conference focused on the concept of leadership. In October 2010, CIPE conducted a two-day technical assistance workshop for the newly established women s chamber of commerce in Peshawar. The workshop focused on organizational objectives, strategic planning, advocacy tools, media strategy, and membership development. Central and North Punjab Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNPWCCI) CNPWCCI is located in Lahore and was formally registered in July 2007 as the first women s chamber in Pakistan. By its mission, CNPWCCI strives to be an organization where women entrepreneurs from all tiers of society can find a forum to voice their concerns, seek assistance, access market research, and pursue professional development. The Chamber works to accomplish this goal through various business promotion activities, exhibitions, trade delegations, and trainings. CNPWCCI has two categories of members. The first consists of around 100 formally registered businesses that fulfill the documentary requirements as decreed by the Director General Trade Organization, including the assignment of a National Tax Number (NTN) and statutory filings of company-related documents. 5 They have voting rights in the Chamber. The second member category is for over 1,000 working members who are informally registered based only on their ID cards. Eighty percent of all members come from industries such as home textiles, handicrafts, gems and jewelry, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. The Chamber helps them establish and expand their business interests nationally and internationally. For example, CNPWCCI persuaded the State Bank of Pakistan to issue collateral-free loans for women entrepreneurs. As part of its activities, the Chamber recognizes outstanding local business women through an annual award ceremony. This year s event coincided 3

4 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: with the 100th anniversary of International Women s Day and CNPWCCI celebrated by organizing a three-day series of educational and social events meant to promote women s empowerment in the community. The Chamber also held its Laurels of Honor Awards Ceremony honoring accomplished women from diverse sectors such as banking, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, manufacturing, informationl technology, media, politics, healthcare, education, art, and entertainment. CNPWCCI also hosts other events such as the Women Lifestyle Exhibition, a major networking opportunity. 6 One of the Chamber s key achievements has been its official recognition from the United Nations as a liaison body in Pakistan. That has provided greater visibility for pursuing the broader goal of creating an environment conducive to the development of women entrepreneurs. CNPWCCI gained another important accomplishment in January 2011 when the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) created in its executive body a reserved seat for a Vice President for Women Entrepreneurs. Dr. Shehla Javed Akram, President of CNPWCCI, Women were not allowed to belong to city chambers so we have our own chamber now. Government officials and different institutions take us more seriously. - Aneela Iftikhar President and Founder South Punjab Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SPWCCI) was subsequently nominated for this position for This is a big victory for women entrepreneurs of Pakistan, she said. This is a clear indication that the business community has accepted contributions made by business women of Pakistan. South Punjab Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SPWCCI) SPWCCI is based in Multan, Punjab Province with branch offices in Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, and Dera Ghazi Khan. The Ministry of Commerce issued an operating license to SPWCCI in July 2008 and the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan granted it a Certificate of Incorporation in September In January 2009, SPWCCI joined the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry 8 and Aneela Iftikhar, president and founder of SPWCCI, became the first woman Executive Member of FPCCI. SPWCCI has 135 members that are officially registered women-owned businesses possessing NTNs, and as many as 350 members that are not formally registered. Members are predominantly engaged in manufacturing, embroidery, the making of sohan halwa (a traditional Pakistani delicacy), and growing mango and cotton. The Chamber encourages women entrepreneurs to come up with creative new business ideas, shares information among members, and promotes the products of local women-owned businesses to potential customers. SPWCCI is currently negotiating with the State Bank of Pakistan the provision of collateral-free loans up to 500,000 Pakistan rupees (approximately US$5,800) for women entrepreneurs. The Chamber is also advocating better regulations for private banks that would facilitate such loans. For women owners of start-ups who want to participate in trade exhibitions and conferences abroad, the Chamber is working with the Ministry of Industries and Production to obtain travel funding. 4

5 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: One of the key challenges facing all businesses in Pakistan and clearly reflected in SPWCCI membership is the difficulty and cost of formally registering a business. This drives informality because many firms choose not to register. SPWCCI has been working to increase awareness of that issue, encouraging formalization and emphasizing the many ways in which informality hinders the prospects of women-owned businesses. For instance, having a NTN is one of the criteria for participating in the trips that SPWCCI organizes to trade exhibitions abroad. SPWCCI also brings potential customers to local businesses. One example was the South Punjab Expo in Multan, held in November 2009 with support from Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani. This three-day event was the first exhibition of this type in Punjab, showcasing the work of 108 women entrepreneurs. Building on the success of this event, SPWCCI organized the second South Punjab Expo in November 2010 with plans to continue this international fair annually. 9 SWCCI also helps its members with capacity building through workshops organized in cooperation with the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Pakistan s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA). Aneela Iftikhar emphasizes that SPWCCI membership brings real benefits. Women were not allowed to belong to city chambers so we have our own chamber now. Government officials and different institutions take us more seriously, she said. She plans to continue workshops for members, represent their interests, and provide them with relevant information about market trends, parliamentary affairs, and regulations. In the longer term, SPWCCI wants to create a skills development institute with government assistance in order to help members better realize economies of scale. Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) IWCCI was registered in July 2009 and operates in Pakistan s capital under the leadership of Samina Prior to the formation of our Chamber, women had no platform to be heard. Now they have become recognized, their businesses are doing better, they are participating in exhibitions abroad, and they are making their presence felt. - Samina Fazil President and Founder, Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) Fazil, founder and president. The Chamber s goal is to create a peaceful and stable business environment for women entrepreneurs, lift them out of poverty, and encourage their economic participation. IWCCI currently has 125 registered members with NTNs and over 200 members without NTNs working in industries such as textiles, garments, jewelry, compressed natural gas distribution, furniture, handicrafts, food and herbal medicines, or education. The Chamber provides training, seminars, lectures, and workshops; organizes trade delegations; and recently held an international EXPO 2011 in partnership with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 10 The event was held April 9-10, 2011 and attracted more than 50,000 visitors with 150 exhibitors. Women entrepreneurs in Pakistan often lack business awareness and know-how, and face social constraints that make it difficult for a woman to start and run a business. To address that, IWCCI provides a platform where women can come 5

6 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: together and discuss such challenges and their ideas to overcome them. Therefore, members derive encouragement from the fact that they are not alone. One of the Chamber s most immediate goals is acquiring a proper office building so that it can conduct trainings and seminars for those women on a regular basis and provide space where its members, most of whom are home-based businesses, can exhibit their products. The Chamber also promotes the concept of women-to-women trade and works with policymakers on issues important to women in business. Prior to the formation of our Chamber, women had no platform to be heard, said Samina Fazil. Now they have become recognized, their businesses are doing better, they are participating in exhibitions abroad, and they are making their presence felt. When talking about the importance of women s chambers, she recalls her own journey. She started her business as a designer, manufacturer, retailer, wholesaler, and exporter in 1989 and became a member of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce in Yet, despite her extensive business experience, she felt that she was not treated as an equal member and her problems were not heard or addressed. For women-owned small businesses, this situation was much more pronounced. That is why Samina Fazil decided to form a chamber of commerce for women. While it was challenging to establish the organization, IWCCI members can now enjoy equal status with mainstream chambers and put forward their agenda that otherwise would not have made it to the table. The key is to sustain IWCCI and to keep moving it forward. This is not the end. This is just the beginning, she concludes. Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mardan (WCCI Mardan) Mardan is a district capital in Pakistan s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province. Located close to the volatile Swat Valley, the city captured the attention of international news in 2009 as it became a destination for internally displaced persons fleeing We feel that we are fighting for the cause of women who have not been afforded an opportunity to participate in the economic life of the country...the creation and existence of a legal body representing them has given a lot of encouragement to the women confined to houses who were the victims of harsh traditions. - Ambreen Khan Hoti President, Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mardan (WCCI Mardan) violence. Much less is known, however, about some of the positive developments in that region, including the establishment of WCCI Mardan under the leadership of Ambreen Khan Hoti. The vision for forming a women s chamber came from Haji Naseem-Ur-Rehman, a prominent local industrialist and founder of the Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). Other key promoters included Ambreen Khan Hoti, Fehmeeda Zafar, and Fozia Kanwal. The promulgation of Trade Ordinance 2006 inspired them to work toward formally establishing a women s chamber. In cooperation with CIPE, MCCI reached out to women entrepreneurs in and around the Mardan District and provided them with computers and business training to establish their own chamber of commerce. These efforts were successful and WCCI Mardan obtained its license on July 20, 2010, became incorporated, and is currently applying for FPCCI affiliation. 6

7 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: The Chamber s mission is to mobilize women entrepreneurs to become an integral part of Pakistan s business community. It currently has 120 members and aims to open branch offices in 13 of KPK Province s 25 districts. Members include educational institutions, vocational centers, as well as various producers in the dairy, bee keeping, fishing, farming, and garment industries. Given how young an organization WCCI is, many of its activities involve efforts to introduce the Chamber to various government agencies, banks, other financial institutions, and embassies. A corresponding goal is to encourage the development of more women-owned businesses so that they can play a vital role in economic development. In order to achieve that, the Chamber wants to establish vocational training centers and prepare women to work in academic institutions. We feel that we are fighting for the cause of women who have not been afforded an opportunity to participate in the economic life of the country, said Ambreen Khan Hoti. The creation and existence of a legal body representing them has given a lot of encouragement to the women confined to houses who were the victims of harsh traditions. Hopefully our concerted efforts will bear fruit and achieve our goal of equal participation by women in the economy. Since the availability of finance is the biggest challenge that local women entrepreneurs face, WCCI works with the State Bank of Pakistan as well as various agencies to help women obtain credit and take advantage of government-sponsored programs. The Chamber also works with the Mardan branch of the First Women Bank, uniquely dedicated to meeting the banking needs of women entrepreneurs, and Khyber Bank to provide advantageous loan terms for women entrepreneurs. WCCI also responds to the immediate needs of the community. The Chamber helped families from the Malakand area in the Swat Valley who were displaced by violence, and assisted victims of the devastating flood in WCCI delivered 600 sewing machines to flood-affected areas and ran rehabilitation centers distributing relief goods, with the longer-term objective of establishing educational institutions to provide professional training for women. The Chamber also plans to help establish women s enterprises exporting vegetables and fruit, and to introduce local women to work with polished gemstones that are abundantly available in the region. Peshawar Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI Peshawar) WCCI Peshawar is located in KPK Province (KPK). It was formally registered on August 10, 2010 and on March 2, 2011 Chairman of the Senate s Standing Committee on Commerce and the head of KPK Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, conducted the inauguration ceremony. 11 Sajida Zulfiqar leads WCCI Peshawar. Despite being a very new organization, the Chamber already has over 100 dues-paying members representing boutique stores, parlors, bazaar traders, as well as food, handicraft, and garment producers. Services offered include workshops and seminars on business practices and trade exhibitions. Women entrepreneurs continue to face many challenges throughout Pakistan, including a lack of economic opportunities and the constraints of a traditionally patriarchal society. In Peshawar, those challenges have been compounded by severe flooding in The floods not only inflicted physical damage but also contributed to a deteriorated rule of law, making the business environment more difficult. Under these circumstances, opening a women s chamber in Peshawar and getting women involved is a big accomplishment in itself. The Peshawar chamber s goal is to provide women a platform where they can learn and exchange business ideas, as well as gain relevant exposure that will help them expand their businesses and export their products. To that end, WCCI has taken member delegations to India and Dubai. In India, members witnessed a home-run factory producing soft drinks, processed food, and other 7

8 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: goods. The Chamber now seeks to create a similar facility in Peshawar. In Dubai, Chamber members participated in several trade exhibitions. WCCI Peshawar is also focused on broader issues, such as the need to standardize quality requirements for exports. The current lack of these standards undermines of the ability of women s businesses to form lasting trade relationships with customers. When women-owned businesses send samples of their work to the Chamber to promote them for export, the sample goods are of high quality. However, subsequent shipments are often substandard and buyers reject them. That is not only bad for individual businesses, but also reflects poorly on WCCI. Another problem that the Chamber is working to address is the high level of informality among women-owned businesses. The Chamber has arranged free legal counsel to help its members process NTN-related documents. Fitrath Ilyas Bilour, an executive member of WCCI Peshawar, stressed that it is important that Initially, most challenges to women entrepreneurship come from our households. In order to overcome them, we are creating marketing platforms and opportunities where we can present our work and work of other women. - Fehmida Kuasar Jamali Founding member and Executive Director, Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta (WCCI Quetta) women from KPK now have their own voice in the economic arena because otherwise no one takes women seriously their issues are not presented or addressed in a male-dominated chamber. The Chamber s priorities going forward include providing better education and more economic opportunities for women. In particular, the Chamber also aims to create university clubs affiliated with it as a way to mobilize and involve young people in entrepreneurship. WCCI understands that young women are its future and key driving force, since married or older women tend to be more reluctant to start a business or be active in business organizations. Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta (WCCI Quetta) WCCI Quetta covers 28 of Balochistan Province s 30 districts. It was registered on August 28, 2010 after two years of efforts headed by the founding member and executive director Fehmida Kuasar Jamali. The Chamber currently has 125 members and its mission is to create an environment and resources to help local women entrepreneurs develop their businesses and contribute to the national economy. The Chamber also promotes the region s culture by encouraging women s skills in embroidery, clothing, working with precious stones, carpet weaving, and traditional handicrafts as viable business ventures. Many women in Balochistan are already involved in various business activities but they are usually small-scale cottage industries where the potential for growth is limited and real profit goes to the middleman. WCCI Quetta is dedicated to helping those women at the grassroots level through training programs, skill development, networking, and advice on potential new career paths. 12 The Chamber faces many challenges. In the conservative Balochistan region, forming a women s chamber was a significant achievement. Women in the region have plenty of talent, skills, and business potential but, by and large, they lack education, resources, and the awareness to successfully pursue their own business ventures. WCCI s role is to 8

9 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: help its members overcome those hurdles. For instance, Fehmida Kuasar Jamali has recently visited Chennai and Delhi in India to explore the potential for forming new trade relationships that would benefit WCCI Quetta s members. The Chamber is also working to set up a joint program with the Pakistan Gems and Jewelry Company to train women on how to work in the precious stone industry. The Chamber also works to address a pervasive sense of alienation common among women entrepreneurs as well as the Baloch people in general. Many people in the province believe that they are not treated equally with the rest of Pakistan in terms of their political representation, budget allocations, and development programs. To counteract that, the Chamber offers seminars and workshops for women on how to start a business and become full stakeholders in society. Finally, WCCI Quetta teaches its members how to explain the benefits of women engaging in entrepreneurship to their fathers, husbands, and brothers. Aspiring women entrepreneurs often face challenges within their households when male family members prevent them from forming independent business ventures. Initially, most challenges to women entrepreneurship come from our households, observed Fehmida Kuasar Jamali. In order to overcome them, we are creating marketing platforms and opportunities where we can present our work and work of other women. Women Resource Centers Apart from the women s chambers created as a result of the 2006 Trade Ordinance, a Women Entrepreneurs Committee has also been formed within the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Additionally, two important chambers of commerce now have Women Resource Centers (WRCs) dedicated to the needs of women entrepreneurs. Such centers, created in 2008 and 2009 respectively, exist at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry. WRCs provide women entrepreneurs with venues to meet and discuss opportunities and challenges they face. They function as secretariats for women s business activities, coordinating support for women entrepreneurs with relevant governmental agencies. They also provide business training programs and work to address issues such as women s lack of access to bank loans. As parts of larger, established chambers, WRCs also give women an outlet for advocacy so that they can make their concerns heard and affect national economic policies. 13 Shamim Akhtar was the founder and head of the Women Resource Center at the Lahore Chamber from 2007 until 2009 and is a former Chairperson of the FPCCI s Committee for Women Entrepreneurs ( ). Once the WRC at the Lahore Chamber was formed, it became a rallying cry for both established and emerging women entrepreneurs, she said. There are now more than 18,000 registered members with the Lahore Chamber and more than 525 of them are women entrepreneurs associated with the Lahore Chamber s WRC. The Ordinance helped women carve out their space in the economic and business development arenas. Conclusion The 2006 Trade Ordinance, issued after a yearlong consultative process initiated by CIPE Pakistan, created the first-ever legal opportunity for women to form chambers and business associations. The ability to form their own chambers empowered women entrepreneurs to shift from reacting to government policies toward making their own needs and concerns known and actively advocating for economic reform. The Ordinance not only allows the creation of women s chambers but also encourages women s participation in mainstream chambers, which introduces a healthy competition between women s and mainstream chambers over attracting new members. Since the passage of the Ordinance, women entrepreneurs in Pakistan have accomplished many 9

10 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: successes big and small from local artisans being able to better market their goods; to the Sahiwal Chamber (a small city in Punjab) electing its first woman president; 14 to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry appointing its first female vice president. Crucially, in many areas of the country such as the conservative KPK province, the mere existence of women s chambers is a huge success. The benefits of the 2006 Trade Ordinance go beyond women entrepreneurs and extend to Pakistan s economy as a whole. The new regulation makes the operations of all chambers and business associations more transparent and promotes competition among those organizations, raising the quality of services they offer to their members and helping to improve Pakistan s overall governance and business environment. However, the space for women entrepreneurs created by the 2006 Trade Ordinance still needs to be fully institutionalized. From a legislative perspective, this presidential ordinance should become a Parliament-ratified legal act to be permanent. 15 Certain improvements in the law itself can also be made. Although an important breakthrough, the Ordinance does not always meet the needs of women entrepreneurs. For instance, the requirement of having 100 members to form of a local chamber is too high because many Pakistani cities do not have that many women entrepreneurs. Nonetheless, Pakistani women now have a vehicle their chambers to speak with a stronger voice and work with the decision-makers on addressing this and other concerns related to the business environment for women entrepreneurs. Endnotes 1 See: Report_2010.pdf. 2 CIPE Pakistan, Policy Advocacy and Economic Reforms, 3 For text of the Ordinance see: TO_Ordinance-2007.pdf. 4 CIPE Pakistan, How to Start a Business: A Guide for Women, 2009, pdf/entrepreneurship%20guide%20_final_w%20 preface.pdf. 5 A business needs to register with the Federal Board of Revenue in order to receive the NTN. This entails paying income tax, which discourages many smaller businesses from registering even though having NTN brings benefits such as the ability to bid on government contracts and greater customer confidence. 6 See Laurels of Honour 2009 ( reformsnetwork.org/women/?p=1046) and 100th International Women s Day, CNPWCCI ( reformsnetwork.org/women/?p=1647). 7 Woman Vice President at FPCCI, reformsnetwork.org/women/?p= All chambers in Pakistan must be registered under the Companies Ordinance 1984 Section 42 as not-for-profit companies. Then they receive license from Director General Trade Organization and finally membership in the FPCCI. According to the law, each city can have only one chamber, in addition to a women s chamber. 9 2nd South Punjab Expo, com/2ndsouthp.pdf. 10 Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry website, 11 The Dawn. News in Brief, news-in-brief.html. 12 Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta website, 13 CIPE, Women s Business Associations. Experiences from Around the World: South Asia, 2009, p. 10, cipe.org/publications/papers/pdf/south%20asia%20 Chapter.pdf. 14 Sonia Waseem became President of the Sahiwal Chamber, 15 It is common practice in Pakistan that the President enacts legislation to address urgent issues. Such legislation is called an ordinance and, after some time, it must be ratified by the Parliament if it is going to become a permanent act. This is the case with the Trade Ordinance. It was introduced by the President and re-promulgated several times but has not been formally ratified by the Parliament yet, although the deliberations are ongoing. Anna Nadgrodkiewicz is a Program Officer for Global Programs at CIPE, where she works on projects involving democratic and market-oriented reform around the world. Prior to joining CIPE, she worked as a business consultant in her native Poland on the issues of competitiveness and market entry in Central and Eastern Europe. She holds a Master s degree in German and European Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. 10

11 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: The author would like to thank Ali Salman, managing partner for Development Pool in Lahore, for conducting interviews with the women s chambers, and CIPE s Pakistan office for contributing to this article. In particular, the author thanks CIPE Pakistan Senior Program Manager Hammad Siddiqi and Program Officer Huzaifa Shabbir Hussain. The views expressed by the author are her own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). CIPE grants permission to reprint, translate, and/or publish original articles from its Economic Reform Feature Service provided that (1) proper attribution is given to the original author and to CIPE and (2) CIPE is notified where the article is placed and a copy is provided to CIPE s Washington office. The Economic Reform Feature Service is CIPE s online and electronic article distribution service. It provides in-depth articles designed for a network of policymakers, business leaders, civic reformers, scholars, and others interested in the issues relating to economic reform and its connection to democratic development. Articles are ed and posted online twice a month. If you would like to subscribe free of charge, please join the CIPE network by entering your at CIPE welcomes articles submitted by readers. Most articles run between 3-7 pages (1,000-3,000 words). All submissions relevant to CIPE s mission will be considered based on merit. The (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and journalists to build the civic institutions vital to a democratic society. CIPE s key program areas include anti-corruption, advocacy, business associations, corporate governance, democratic governance, access to information, the informal sector and property rights, and women and youth. 11