Significantly promoting women’s economic inclusion, the Capital Development Authority today expressed its commitment to increase its support for women entrepreneurs and presented a plan of new initiatives in collaboration with the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During a recent meeting with an IWCCI delegation led by President Samina Fazil, CDA Chairman Lt. (Retd.) Sohail Ashraf highlighted the success of Islamabad”s inaugural marketplace dedicated to women entrepreneurs. The meeting emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation to fortify female-led enterprises.
Businesswomen at the gathering acknowledged the pivotal roles played by CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) Director Dr. Anam Fatima in establishing the Women Enterprise Market. The provision of specialised commercial space was deemed crucial to the project”s fruition.
Expressing gratitude, Samina Fazil praised the CDA, MCI, State Bank of Pakistan, and JazzCash for their support, describing the market as a transformative step towards broadening economic prospects for women.
In his address, Sohail Ashraf lauded the efforts of IWCCI and assured that CDA would intensify its collaboration with the chamber. He emphasised that enhancing women”s business involvement is vital for the economic growth of Islamabad, and more structured programmes are anticipated in the upcoming months.
Dr. Anam Fatima affirmed the city”s dedication to creating safe, accessible business environments for women, advocating for affordable enterprise models that can be replicated throughout the capital.
Fazil characterised the Women Enterprise Market in G-11 as a groundbreaking initiative, noting the absence of such dedicated commercial spaces for women-led businesses in Islamabad”s history.
Despite progress, Naima Ansari highlighted challenges faced by female entrepreneurs, noting that women own only about 8 percent of Pakistan”s over five million SMEs, with a mere 3.2 percent of SME financing directed towards women-led enterprises. This disparity significantly limits women”s contributions to economic growth.
The delegation also explored potential collaborations between civic authorities and the private sector, with Fazil affirming IWCCI”s commitment to expanding similar initiatives. She urged municipal authorities and chambers of commerce nationwide to support female-led enterprises through practical measures and dedicated business spaces.