ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Marvi Memon on Saturday inaugurated an exhibition of handicrafts made by women artisans of BISP beneficiaries.
The BISP and Cheezmall have jointly organised the exhibition at Darbar Hotel Ground, Karimabad, Hunza. The BISP and Cheezmall have collaborated to hold exhibitions one in each province to promote sale of BISP beneficiaries at international level.
Cheezmall is an online shopping website created by professionals of e-commerce who have past experience of managing and running Alibaba, a global leader in the field.
In order to replicate the successful model of Alibaba, Cheezmall utilises expertise of Alibaba for training of their managers. It started its operation in Pakistan last year.
During the exhibition, visitors took great interest in wide range of exhibited products such as caps, shoulder bags, wall hangings, wallets, key chains, door bells, pouches, cushion covers, wooden products, carpets, jewellery items, gems, shawls, local dresses and shoes.
Products worth Rs five million were purchased by visitors and Cheezmall which would further market the products on its website to ensure international and national sales. The amount earned was given to the BISP beneficiaries on the spot. At the event, food stalls were also set-up by the beneficiaries that earned them handsome amount of money.
On the occasion, Cheezmall Director Ghazanfer delivered a message of Cheezmall on behalf
of its CEO Aurangzeb Khan and co-founders Wang Qu and Lichenglong.
He said that Cheezmall was highly interested in promoting and maximising profits for the products of poverty-ridden BISP beneficiaries. He added that this exhibition was a first step towards long-term cooperation between the BISP and Cheezmall focusing on the betterment of the poor beneficiaries across Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Marvi said that the BISP was making endeavours to harness entrepreneurial potential of its beneficiaries by marketing their products so that they might break vicious cycle of poverty. “This is a historic beginning, which will change lives of the poorest women of Pakistan,” she said.
“BISP is a social safety net that not only lends a hand in poverty management but also endeavours to harness entrepreneurial potential of its beneficiaries,” she reiterated.
She added that market access to handicrafts of the marginalized segment would contribute to their financial empowerment.
Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Jafarullah Khan, senior Minister Mohammad Iqbal, local politicians, Cheezmall Director Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Prince Saleem, BISP regional director Mehboob Ali Khan, PML-N Jan Alam, marketing team of Cheezmall and large number of beneficiaries and local public were also present.
dailytimes
