LAHORE - The government is committed to promote economic empowerment of Women by providing entrepreneurship facilitation through its organizations like SMEDA. It was stated by Shahid Rashid, Chief Executive Officer, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) while addressing a seminar as chief guest at 8th Women Life Style Exhibition organized by Central and North Punjab Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The seminar was also addressed by Dr Shehla Javaid Akram, Chairperson CNP-WCCI, Begum Mehnaz Rafi, the renowned politician and human rights activist, Ms Kokab, Mrs Qaisra Sheikh, Mrs Bushra, a legend beautician, Mrs Safina and Ms Aisha Amjad Mir, Project Director, Women Business Incubation Center of SMEDA. Shahid Rashid, in his concluding address, highlighted SMEDA's special projects developed for developing entrepreneurship and business related skills among women. He informed that SMEDA had set up a women entrepreneurship cell for handholding of businesswomen in the country. The first Women Business Incubation Center established by SMEDA at Lahore had been a success story of this cell, he said adding that cubical offices set up in the center were running in full occupancy along with business related training programs specially designed to create awareness on various fields of entrepreneurship among women. He informed that such centers had also been planned for Karachi and Peshawar. Dr Shehla Javaid Akram, delivering the address of welcome, expressed deep gratitude for SMEDA's support to promote the cause of women entrepreneurship development in Pakistan. She demanded more initiatives at government level for easy access to finance for new businesswomen. She suggested to introduce collateral free credit schemes in this regard. Earlier, Shahid Rashid opened the 8th Women Life Style Exhibition by formal cutting of the ribbon. Dr Shehla, Chairperson of CNP-WCCI took him to the stalls in the exhibition.