Govt to launch first national policy for women entrepreneurs: SAPM

LAHORE: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) jointly celebrated Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The event brought together more than 21 women chambers of commerce and industry from across Pakistan and highlighted the growing role of women entrepreneurs in driving inclusive and sustainable economic progress.

Addressing the ceremony and speaking to the media, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan praised Pakistani women for creating opportunities and turning constraints into catalysts for economic growth. He announced that Pakistan will soon introduce its first-ever national women entrepreneurship policy, noting that under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, women have been placed at the heart of economic development.

Khan said Pakistani women are emerging as business leaders and stressed the need to move beyond facilitation to provide them with leadership roles. He projected that this year alone, economic facilitation measures are expected to exceed $40 billion and highlighted that new market access and digital platforms could further boost growth. He also emphasised the government’s Export Facilitation Policy and the role of the Economic Implementation Cell (EIC) in innovative planning.

He added that women’s entrepreneurship stands at the forefront of industrial transformation and that Pakistan cannot achieve its full potential without women’s economic leadership.The event reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting women-led businesses through policy support, market access, digital acceleration, and collaborative initiatives. SMEDA CEO Nadia highlighted the government’s efforts to empower women through SMEs, loans, and skills development.

The ceremony was attended by prominent business leaders, including FPCCI Vice President Qurat-ul-Ain, Tariq Jadoon, Chairman Capital Office Karim Aziz Malik, and Chairman Coordination and President of the Hafizabad Chamber Malik Sohail Hussain.