By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Sindh government is set to launch an e-commerce website and a smartphone application aimed at empowering female artisans from rural and underprivileged areas by connecting them directly with buyers in international markets. Announcing the initiative at the 17th CSR Summit & Awards-2025, Sindh Women Development Minister Shaheena Sher Ali said the project would provide women with the tools to bypass middlemen and sell their products independently.
Under the scheme, 100 skilled women from every district in Sindh will receive training on e-commerce platforms, equipping them with the knowledge to market and sell their products globally. The Women Development Department will also conduct skill enhancement sessions to help artisans meet international quality standards. Stressing the need to leverage technology for economic empowerment, Shaheena Sher Ali highlighted how smartphones—once primarily a communication tool—had transformed into a powerful business resource.
The event also featured MNA Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui, who urged citizens to stay actively engaged with their elected representatives to resolve civic issues. He announced that the federal government had approved the long-awaited release of development funds for MNAs, which would now be directed toward infrastructure projects in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Brig (Retd) Tarique Quadir Lakhiar, CEO of Sindh Integrated Emergency & Health Services (SIEHS), provided insights into the province’s emergency response system. He revealed that Sindh’s Rescue 1122 fleet currently operates 461 ambulances, with plans to expand it to 640. Notably, each ambulance in Sindh is equipped with 29 life-saving tools, compared to 14 in Punjab, and 110 vehicles are fitted with ventilators. He also announced plans to launch a boat-based ambulance service to assist fishermen along Sindh’s coastline.
NFEH President Naeem Qureshi emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the government, private sector, donors, and philanthropists to fast-track Pakistan’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event also saw remarks from NFEH Secretary General Ruqiya Naeem and Vice-President Nadeem Asraf, both of whom acknowledged the private sector’s vital role in supporting philanthropic initiatives.
