PASDEC launches CREW project of women skill development

Lahore:Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) has launched women skill development training of marble mosaic, inlay and handicrafts under Creative Entrepreneurship for Women (CREW) Project. This is funded by Government of Germany through GIZ.

The Mosaic, Crafts and Inlay (MCI) as sub-sector of Marble and Granite sector of Pakistan possesses immense potential for women entrepreneurship development, skill development, employment generation, promotion of an entrepreneurial culture and the creation of value added products, including decoration pieces and furniture from marble waste. Through such activities, PASDEC aims to achieve gender parity by upgrading the position of women within the value chain development by inserting high value added sub-sectors in which women can participate as entrepreneurs, producers and workers.

Two MCI centers established at Charrah (Islamabad Capital Territory) and at Abbotabad, Hazara Division (KPK). The direct beneficiaries of trainings will be 560 women from the most vulnerable strata of areas surrounding industrial hubs in the Hazara region of KPK and rural ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory). At least fifteen members of the family or locality will indirectly benefit from the direct beneficiaries. Hence, the five hundred and sixty direct beneficiaries of the training programme will further train approximately 8,400 women from their communities. A total of 8,960 women will benefit directly and indirectly from CREW project. This will broadly impact on security improvement and poverty reduction.

The first Mosaic, Crafts and Inlay center has been established at Charra in Islamabad and about 40 women have been enrolled for training. Chief Executive Officer PASDEC, Mr. Lutuf Rehman and officials of GIZ and UNIDO visited the center and expressed their satisfaction on training activities.