Mental health awareness vital for utilizing women’s potential in national development: FCCI President

Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh has stressed the need to focus on women’s mental health to effectively utilize their God-gifted abilities for collective social and economic development

FAISALABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2026) Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh has stressed the need to focus on women’s mental health to effectively utilize their God-gifted abilities for collective social and economic development.

He was addressing an awareness session on “Importance of Mental Health in the Modern Era” organized by the Standing Committee of Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FWCCI) on Women Health in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faisalabad Medical University (FMU).

Punjab’s first female ombudsperson Dr Najma Afzal, Professor Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Dogar, President FWCCI Madam Shahida Aftab and Dr. Samreen Afzal also attended the session and highlighted different aspects of mental health awareness.

Addressing the participants, Farooq Yousaf Sheikh said that the use of laptops, mobile phones and artificial intelligence-based technologies had increased significantly in the modern age of self-centered lifestyles. Although modern inventions were not undesirable, yet excessive dependence on digital devices had negatively affected human thinking and social interaction, he added.

Referring to international examples, he said that certain countries including Germany had imposed restrictions on mobile phone use for children under the age of 16 to protect their mental well-being and cognitive development.

He emphasized that a healthy society could only be built on the foundation of healthy minds and said that nations which integrated women into the mainstream of economic and social activities had achieved rapid progress and development.

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The FCCI President said that women constituted 51 percent of Pakistan’s population and creating awareness about their mental and emotional health was extremely important.

He said that women as mothers, sisters and daughters played a key role in collective development of the society and their positive attitudes greatly contributed towards resolving social issues.

He urged the participants to benefit fully from the awareness session and acknowledged the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz for women empowerment, saying that the business community appreciated her initiatives aimed at improving opportunities for women.

Farooq Yousaf Sheikh also appreciated the efforts of Dr. Najma Afzal and her family for the sustainable development of Faisalabad and said that they were striving for establishment of an Expo Center in the city. He said that Rana Ahsan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to Prime Minister on Commerce, had extended valuable support in this regard. He said that the proposed Expo Center would provide women-led startups an opportunity to display their products and promote entrepreneurship.

He said that female entrepreneurs introducing brands in the market were performing exceptionally well and achieving remarkable success.

Later, special shields were presented to Dr. Najma Afzal, Professor Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Dogar and Dr. Samreen Afzal in recognition of their services while other speakers also highlighted the importance of mental health awareness and emotional well-being.