KARACHI: President of Korangi Association of Trade & Industry (KATI) Sheikh Umer Rehan has underlined the importance of financing and consultancy facilities to women entrepreneurs to enhance their role in SME sector.

He was talking to a delegation of HBL Nisa that visited KATI. Vice President KATI Syed Wajid Hussain, Head of KATI’s standing committee on women empowerment Maheen Salman and a large number of women entrepreneurs also attended that gathering.

Referring to his meeting with President & CEO HBL Muhammad Aurangzaib, Sheikh Umer Rehan said HBL and KATI should do collaborative efforts for women entrepreneurs as this is one of the basic step towards economic stability of the country.

He appreciated the products offered by HBL to women entrepreneurs. He also applauded the role played by SCB to provide clear direction for lending and consulting facilities for enhanced role of women in economic activities and their financial inclusion.

He said that there are a lot of unexplored economic venues where women can play their role for the prosperity of their household and the country at same time.

Maheen Salman said that women are half of country’s population “Our financial and economic inclusion is need of economic development of country , not a mere option now” she added.

The delegation of HBL experts told that the bank will provide loans up to Rs1.5 million for five years on lowest interest rate of 5.0 percent to women entrepreneurs and consultation would be offered without any charges.

It was also told that HBL would bring women specified insurance products in which breast cancer treatment would also be included with other benefits. HBL Nisa experts also briefed women entrepreneurs about services offered by the bank and process of financing for their startups and ventures.