200 women entrepreneurs to participate in two-day festival starting today

Islamabad : People from all walks of life will be able to experience crafts and culinary delicacies from across the country, arranged under one roof, in connection with the International Women’s Day at F-9 Park today (Saturday).

The two-day Wecamp festival will commence at noon and will continue till 8 p.m. on March 13. The festival has been organised by Wecamp in collaboration with Islamabad Capital Territory Administration to support and honour women entrepreneurs.

Wecamp manager Naheed Ali told this agency: “After success in the previous fair, we have decided to include more. We are happy to say that 200 female-led ventures are joining us this time.”

UK Aid, Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Adam Smith International, ICT Police, Bank of Punjab, are among other partners of this celebratory festival.

The second Wecamp gala is free for all and will feature various stalls offering textile, home decor, apparel, jewellery, organic products, arts and crafts, food, and a bakery.

“This initiative focuses on women entrepreneurs as they constitute a largely untapped market with potential for immense economic contribution,” Naheed said adding that the aim of the organisation was to financially empower these home-based women entrepreneurs by increasing the visibility of their businesses, enabling market linkages, enhancing networking and learning opportunities, and digital skills training.

Home-based female entrepreneurs, who participated in the last fair, are on cloud nine as they feel they have a platform to connect to the market and generate good sales.

Humaira, who runs Blackbeans, an online local and continental food outlet, expressed, "The first festival was a well-organised event. The team was professional and checked on all stall owners frequently.

I did a lot of sales. People loved my biryani so much that it ran out in 3 hours."

"I am hopeful that this event will be better," she added.

Uff foods owner Nayyab, who sells savoury and baked goods shared: "The charges for booths are in an affordable range. The Wecamp squad was very efficient. More festivals like this should be organized.

It was a very positive environment, all-female vendors supported each other.”

Prominent dignitaries will attend this family-friendly fiesta including Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat.

This female-centric fete is the project of Atomcamp, a start-up launched by Shuaa Khalid with Dr. Naveed Iftikhar. It is dedicated to support professional and intellectual development of Pakistan’s workforce.