Women Entrepreneurs Expo in Islamabad

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Women Entrepreneurs Expo in Islamabad

Women Micro-Entrepreneurship Expo 2025 Highlights Empowerment and Collaboration

Shirakat Foundation, in partnership with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), recently held the Women Micro-Entrepreneurship Expo 2025 at the SBP premises in Islamabad. This event provided a dynamic platform for women micro-entrepreneurs to display their products, share their stories, and connect directly with key stakeholders. The expo aimed to enhance market linkages and expand networking opportunities for women-led businesses.

During the event, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed visited the stalls of various women entrepreneurs, engaging in open and meaningful conversations. These discussions included insights into the digital onboarding process and feedback from the entrepreneurs regarding their experiences and challenges.

In her welcome address, Bilquis Tahira, Executive Director of Shirakat Foundation, emphasized the foundation’s significant contributions to empowering women and youth. She highlighted several achievements, including vocational and technical training for over 6,000 youth with a 66% employability rate, supporting 1,250 women-led businesses, and establishing Pakistan's first women's agricultural cooperative with 750 members. Additionally, the foundation has enrolled over 11,000 girls in schools and reached more than two million people through gender-based violence prevention campaigns.

The expo featured insightful speeches from various speakers, focusing on critical topics such as women's empowerment, financial literacy, digital inclusion, and sustainable growth. Simona Lanzoni, Vice President and Head of Projects at the Pangea Foundation, spoke about the global commitment to advancing women's socio-economic empowerment and addressing gender-based violence.

Imtiaz Ali, Senior Deputy Chief Manager at SBP BSC Islamabad, emphasized the importance of sound financial management practices for the long-term sustainability of women-led businesses. He encouraged entrepreneurs to focus on budgeting, record-keeping, and informed decision-making.

Augusto Palmieri, First Secretary at the Embassy of Italy, highlighted the need for collaboration among states, institutions, and development partners to advance women's economic empowerment. He reaffirmed the Embassy of Italy's commitment to supporting women-led enterprises.

The discussion also focused on the transformative role of digital innovations in improving women's access to finance. These technologies are enabling greater financial inclusion and opening new avenues for women entrepreneurs.

As the chief guest, Muhammad Awais Satti, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries, praised the resilience, creativity, and determination of women entrepreneurs. His remarks underscored the growing recognition of women's contributions to the economy.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Adnan Imran, Chief Manager at SBP BSC Islamabad, who expressed gratitude to all participants and partners for their support and involvement.

Key Contributions and Achievements

  • Vocational and Technical Training: Over 6,000 youth trained with a 66% employability rate.
  • Support for Women-Led Businesses: Assistance provided to 1,250 women-led businesses.
  • Women's Agricultural Cooperative: Established Pakistan's first women's agricultural cooperative with 750 members.
  • Educational Initiatives: Enrollment of over 11,000 girls in schools.
  • Gender-Based Violence Prevention: Reaching over two million people through awareness campaigns.

Collaborative Efforts and Future Directions

The Women Micro-Entrepreneurship Expo 2025 showcased the power of collaboration between organizations, government bodies, and international partners. The event not only celebrated the achievements of women entrepreneurs but also laid the groundwork for future initiatives that can further empower women in the business sector.


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