Balkh businesswomen generate 400 jobs for other women

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Some businesswomen in the women-only market in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, have created 400 jobs for other females.

The Market Director Abeda Muazam told Pajhwok Afghan News they had turned seven tailoring shops into learning workshops for a total of 400 women to learn tailoring.

In addition to tailoring, the women also learn beadwork and they help their families economically, Abeda added.

The students of the tailoring course are happy with their work but expect more facilities and machinery.

Khalida, one of the students, who is busy learning tailoring in Rabia Balkhi market, told Pajhwok Afghan News she could support her family as well.

She added that currently they had access to manual sewing machines but asked the government and other relevant institutions to provide them with electric and modern machines.

Nargis, another student, called the workshops an opportunity for women’s self-sufficiency and asked for more such facilities.

MawlaviQudratullah Tariq, the mayor of Mazar-i-Sharif, promised to create more such workshops for women.

Tariq told Pajhwok the market was allowed to function the way it was functioning in the previous government.

Currently about 400 women are busy with tailoring and other businesses in the market, Tariq said and promised to help create more such opportunities for women and provide them with facilities.

The Rabia Balkhi market has been functioning since a decade and a considerable number of women are selling food, rugs, clothes and other handcrafts.

The market before the regime change worked under the now abolished Women’s Affairs Ministry and now its affairs are handed over to the Mazar-i-Sharif municipality.

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