President Asif Ali Zardari has called for financial autonomy of women and improving their access to financial services and credit to encourage women entrepreneurs.

He was talking to Standard Chartered Bank's Group Chief Executive Bill Winters, who along with his delegation, called on him in Islamabad today.

The President said economic empowerment of women would not only strengthen them financially but would also help uplift their families, besides contributing to the national economy. He said banks should support women entrepreneurs as well as enhance their representation in the banking sector.

Asif Ali Zardari highlighted that Pakistan has taken steps to protect the environment and promote forestation. He informed that the Government of Sindh has planted mangrove forests and earned millions of dollars by trading carbon credits in the international market. He suggested that investing in the climate sector would help protect the environment.

The President also called for investing in the agricultural sector as well as financing infrastructure projects in the country, especially small dams, barrages and power plants. He said banks should extend financial services and loans to farmers to increase their access to agricultural inputs.

Asif Ali Zardari congratulated the bank on the completion of successful operations. He said the bank has played a commendable role in the evolution of the country's banking sector. He expressed the hope that the Standard Chartered Bank would continue to play a crucial role in Pakistan's economy, besides expanding its operations in the country.

The delegation briefed the President about the bank's contributions to Pakistan's economy, the development and evolution of the banking industry, and the socio-economic development of the country.