The Express Tribune hi five - August 24

Ms AUGUST 24, 2014

ISSUE NO. 114

Game, Set, Match

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Female Entrepreneurs on the rise

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inside lifestyle —

Sleeping disorders

domestic goddess —

Chicken chow mein

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Section In-Charge: Sarah Munir Sub-Editor: Nisma Chauhan

The dancing diva Suhaee Abro

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the buzz

These women mean business A rising number of women entrepreneurs signal a change in the status-quo by Anum Shaharyar One of the best ways to survive in any competitive market is to carve your own unique space. Women in Pakistan have quickly caught on to this trend over the past decade and have set up successful business ventures in a market which was previously considered a man’s domain. Even though setting up a business initially sounds like a formidable task, all you need is a unique idea, the spirit to keep trying and a little capital.

Breaking barriers If you closely observe the digital landscape, it is brimming with examples of women who have effectively utilised their expertise in their respective domains (clothes, shoes, jewellery and food etcetera) by launching small businesses and have also successfully tapped into the wide array of digital marketing tools that the internet now has to offer. Aamina Jahangir, who has been running The Cakery, a home-based bakery since 2007, is one such example. “I was very young when I decided to formalise my business and starting from home was the only option I had at the time. I am glad because it helped me build a career from the bottom up,” she explains. When Jahangir initially set up a shop, all she had was Rs12,000 at her disposal. Since then, however, The Cakery has grown from a home-based venture to a Café and Bake Studio. The bakery’s Facebook page has almost 140,000 followers and countless raving reviews, which also shows how Jahangir has used social media to market her business.

However, it has not been an equally easy ride for everyone.

Sidra Qasim, co-founder of an online business portal selling handmade Pakistani shoes globally under the brand name, Markhor, says her family was not very receptive of her idea initially. “The only support I had from my parents was the consent to try it for few months, though they were very unhappy about this.” But when you believe in your product and idea, little else can stand in the way. The venture which connects local craftsmen making shoes in Okara to customers across the world is the brainchild of Qasim and her partner, Waqas Ali. However, often potential partners prefer to speak to Qasim’s male counterpart rather than dealing with her. “In such interactions, I put a considerable amount of energy to get them understand my passion for my work. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that if you are passionate and know what you are doing, people will eventually take you seriously,” she says.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 24, 2014

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 24, 2014

Make it big with a little help A unique idea is only half the battle won. The automatic next step is to look for investment that can turn the idea into a reality. While most people dig into their savings, take on friends and family as partners or apply for bank loans, there are also other more innovative ways of securing the required capital. For Qasim and her co-founder, the monetary support came from Pasha Social Innovation Fund (PSIF), a venture which focuses on providing financial assistance for entrepreneurs who have an innovative idea and use technology to bring it forth. The duo won a grant of $10,000 (approximately Rs1,000,000) in September, 2011, which was sufficient to launch their website in 2012 and get the ball rolling. Along with financial help, the PSIF also mentors selected individuals in order to kick start their career. The procedure to enroll in the programme is simple — all one has to do is come up with an innovative idea and submit it to the organisation by filling the form available at their website.

I was very young when I decided to formalise my business and starting from home was the only option I had at the time. I am glad because it helped me build a career from the bottom up Moreover, developmental projects aimed at facilitating women entrepreneurship have also made a substantial difference by encouraging women to run their own businesses.

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), one of the premier institutions of the Government of Pakistan under Ministry of Industries, was established in 1998 in order to take on the challenge of developing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. SMEDA provides guidance to women who are keen to do business but don’t wish to venture into independent offices. For women running business from homes, SMEDA can be an immensely helpful resource that provides them with the required advice and concept clearance about starting up businesses from their homes.

Other initiatives such as National Productivity Organization (NPO), which developed the Women Entrepreneurship Development System (WEDS) — a system designed to improve competitiveness for women who want to move from homebased business to commercial venues — are also available.

The purpose of this initiative is to facilitate women entrepreneurs, especially from rural areas, by creating an exclusive female-friendly environment that offers furnished offices, exhibition/display facilities and business development services. Currently, NPO has successfully set up a pilot WEDS in Multan for around 10 women entrepreneurs and since then the demand for setting a bigger centre has been requested by other women entrepreneurs in the vicinity, as well.

A better future ahead Despite positive trends, statistics indicate that there is still a great deal of progress to be made in terms of representation for women in the business world. According to the 2007 Labour Force Survey of Pakistan, 75% of female labour force is engaged in agricultural activities, as opposed to jobs in manufacturing, trade, transport or communication. Among the total female working population, only 26.7 % of the women are either employers or self-employed and an alarming 20.9 % are unpaid family workers. The situation has not improved much since then as equally high unemployment rates and low labour participation rates for females are seen in the Labour Force Survey of 2012-13.

In Pakistan, productivity and economic progress can take a positive direction if women, who constitute about 49.19% (World Bank survey 2011) of the total population, have an equally high participation in the labour force. Things seem to be going in the right direction albeit gradually. “Home based businesses are increasing in number and all the power to them,” says Jahangir. She hopes that they also bring some much needed originality to the market, adding that, women entrepreneurs are extremely supportive of one another, “I can safely say that our kind is here to stay.”

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en vogue

Saim’s elegant new collection is ideal for evening formal wear.

Coordination: Thomas Fernandes @ Juice Talent Hair & Makeup: Hina@ Rizwan salon Designer: Saim Photography: Mani Models: Saim and Uzma pervaiz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 24, 2014

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 24, 2014

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lifestyle

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 24, 2014

Don’t sleep on it A sleeping disorder is not as harmless as it seems

With daily stress levels on the rise, sleeping disorders have also become routine for most people. According to a press release on March 14, 2014 by the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM), sleep-related problems constitute a global epidemic affecting up to 45% of the world’s population. Moreover, women may be prone to greater sleep deprivation than men. This is especially true for working mothers, who have to deal with the pressure of balancing work and family commitments, says Dr Amal Khalid, a Karachi-based general physician.

A healthy adult requires between seven and a half to eight hours of sleep to be able to function normally throughout the day. “Weddings, familial expectations to spend time together after work and a long commute home are some of the reasons why most patients suffer from sleep deprivation,” says Khalid, adding that issues such as load shedding and deteriorating law and order situation further worsen the situation for urban residents.

After-effects of a sleeping disorder The most common sleeping disorder is insomnia, where people find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep long enough to wake up fresh the next morning. Dr Ali Rizvi, a US-based cardiologist, points out that insomnia can often lead to stomach problems, hypertension and heart diseases. This is in addition to psychological pressures such as social ostracisation and the failure of their condition being taken seriously by peers. “Despite being diagnosed [with insomnia], my friends are unsupportive. They don’t consider it a real problem and only think of it as something I have made up,” says Saleem*,

by Saif Asif Khan

a salesman who suffers from mild insomnia and can only manage to sleep for three hours at a stretch.

Insomnia, however, is just one of the 50 types of medically recognised sleeping disorders. Other conditions such as the Restless legs syndrome (RLS), sleep deprivation and sleep-related respiratory disturbances also result in loss of quality sleep that can lead to numerous health problems, such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Furthermore, insufficient sleep may lead to poor alertness, lack of attention, reduced concentration, decreased work and academic productivity and accidents on the road.

Understanding the problem Sleep requirements vary from person to person. So while one individual can get through the day having slept seven hours the preceding night and not feel groggy, another might feel the need to sleep no less than 10 hours to be alert and productive. Psychological factors, such as a fear of incontinence or other phobias, could keep people from falling asleep easily. However, it is vital to understand if and what kind of sleeping disorder you are suffering from in order to be able to treat it effectively.

The following symptoms indicate a strong possibility that you are suffering from sleep deprivation: • Requiring an alarm to wake up on time.

• The snooze button is your best morning mate.

• Having difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.

• Feeling sluggish in the afternoon.

• Feeling sleepy in meetings, lectures, or warm rooms.

• Getting drowsy after heavy meals or when driving.

• Needing a nap just to get through the day.

• Falling asleep watching TV or while relaxing in the evening.

• Feeling that you need to only sleep on weekends.

• Falling asleep almost immediately after going to bed.

In case you are facing any of the above stated conditions, Khalid suggests including regular exercise in your daily routine. This automatically tires the body physically and it begins to crave sleep. She also warns against too soft or too hard a mattress, “The surface you sleep on should be comfortable. Avoid overly fluffy pillows and cushions.” Similarly, Rizvi suggests avoiding high-caffeine drinks in the evening, and keeping away from electronic gadgets before trying to sleep. Studies have found that TV, laptop and cell-phones emit waves which slow down melatonin production, a hormone in your body that regulates sleep and waking up cycles.

Reach out for help Even though home remedies are of great help in combating sleeping disorders, Saleem suggests consulting a doctor in case of serious sleeplessness. “You can try drugs that they’ve prescribed as they are quite effective,” says Saleem. He adds that there are also a few online support groups that have benefitted him. Sleepstarved.org and Sleep Research Foundation of Pakistan are a great resource to find good medical advice and safe options to tackle the problem. The former has accounts by fellow sufferers which can be of great help and reassurance that you aren’t suffering alone. *Names have been changed to protect privacy.

domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 24, 2014

Recipe

Chicken chowmein

This delicious Chinese cuisine is filled with fresh vegetables, succulent meat and zesty flavor which will keep you coming back for more.

Huba Akbar is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Mass Communication and Journalism.

In her free time, she likes to write, design clothes and cook.

Method

Ingredient:

• Boil noodles in a pan.

• Mix together vinegar, soya sauce, paprika powder, mace and chilli sauce.

• Season the chicken strips with the mixture.

Olive Oil 2 tbsp

Vinegar 1 tbsp

Soya sauce 2 tbsp

Paprika powder 1 tsp

Mace 1 tsp

Chilli sauce 3 tbsp

• Lightly dust the chicken strips with cornflour.

• Heat olive oil in a pan and stir fry chicken strips for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden-brown.

• Add all the veggies and fry them.

• Add salt, chilli flakes, tomato ketchup and mustard paste.

Cornflour (to dust chicken strips)

Onions 3 (finely cut)

Green chilies 4 (finely chopped)

Carrot 1 (cut into thin strips)

Tomato 1 (cut into strips)

Green onions 3 (finely cut)

Chilli flakes 1 tbsp

Tomato ketchup 3 tbsp

Mustard paste 1 tbsp

Sesame oil 1 tbsp

• Stir the noodles and season with soya sauce, sesame oil and black pepper and enjoy the mouthwatering dish!

Capsicums 2 (cut into strips)

Black pepper 1 tbsp (freshly ground)

Salt 1 tsp

woman of the week 8

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 24, 2014

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