SMEDA webinar calls for greater inclusion, economic empowerment of women

LAHORE: Speakers at a webinar hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) on Friday, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, have called for the establishment of a dedicated forum to facilitate regular interaction among women, enabling them to share the challenges they face in achieving economic and social empowerment.

The webinar, organised by SMEDA, was addressed by General Manager Policy and Planning Nadia Jehangir Seth, General Manager Outreach Saleha Saeed, and Deputy General Manager Tania Buttar. A diverse panel of women business leaders from both the public and private sectors spoke on this year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion -- Accelerate Action’.

The interactive session highlighted the resilience of women, shared valuable insights and reinforced the importance of collective support across industries. With both in-person participation at SMEDA’s Lahore office and virtual engagement from stakeholders nationwide, the event ensured broader inclusivity.

Opening the session, Seth reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs through initiatives such as the Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy, designed to create sustainable opportunities for women-led businesses. Saeed stressed that women’s economic participation is not just a matter of equality but a key driver of national progress. Meanwhile, Buttar, head of SMEDA’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Cell (WEDC), underscored the importance of breaking down barriers for women entrepreneurs, adding that greater inclusion strengthens the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Several prominent speakers highlighted the urgency of advancing women’s economic empowerment. Additional Secretary of the Women Development Department Faiza Ehsan, shared details of training programmes aimed at enhancing employability among rural women, while Joint Director at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Faiqa Naseem outlined the achievements of the Banking on Equality policy, which has led to the opening of 12.2 million new women-owned bank accounts, significantly improving financial inclusion.

Addressing the broader role of women in Pakistan’s economy, Samina Fazil, president of Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that with women comprising 50 per cent of the population and over 25 dedicated women’s chambers across the country, fostering an inclusive business environment is crucial for national prosperity. Other panellists, including Vice President of FPCCI Qurat-ul-Ain, CEO of Women Circle Sadaf Abid, Faculty Member at LUMS and Founder of the Pakistan Professional Women’s Forum Gulalai Khan, and Senior Programme Manager at ILO Rabia Razzaque, emphasised the need for a multi-pronged approach to advancing women’s economic empowerment.

They called for stronger mentorship programmes to guide aspiring women entrepreneurs, greater financial accessibility to overcome funding barriers, and enhanced digital literacy to equip women with the skills required to succeed in an increasingly digital economy.

The event concluded on a unified and hopeful note, calling for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, targeted policy interventions, and institutional efforts to ensure that women are at the forefront of Pakistan’s economic and leadership landscape.

Discussions reinforced that meaningful progress requires not just policy initiatives but also a cultural shift that actively supports and uplifts women in business and entrepreneurship.