As the federal budget for 2026-27 approaches, the dynamic founding president of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Samina Fazil, today urged the government to prioritize women entrepreneurs as a vital component of the national economy. She emphasized that despite repeated promises, commitments made to support women business owners have not been fulfilled, hindering the country’s economic growth.
Out of five million businesses in Pakistan, women’s share is only eight percent, according to data provided by the State Bank of Pakistan. This significant underrepresentation highlights the urgent need for the Ministry of Finance to address this gap before budget approval. Last fiscal year, women-focused projects accounted for only 0.2 percent of the federal development budget, with even less, 0.57 percent, allocated for education and health programs targeting women. Public sector development funds have historically allocated barely 1.3 percent for women-centered initiatives over the past five years, which Samina Fazil finds extremely disappointing.
Proposed measures include concessional loans for women entrepreneurs, ensuring representation in export development funds, and a set quota in federal procurement contracts. Additionally, expanding the Islamabad Women Market model to other provincial capitals and ensuring representation of women in trade delegations and access to land for business purposes are key demands.
Despite the introduction of the National Women Entrepreneurial Policy in November 2025 to enhance women’s economic participation, this policy lacks clear financial support and effective implementation strategies. Former Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Naeema Ansari, noted that neighboring countries have made more significant strides in this field. For example, Bangladesh has a gender budget of approximately 23.7 billion USD, supporting 2.8 million women-owned businesses. India has also increased its gender budget to 52.7 billion USD, which is 9.37 percent of federal expenditures.
In contrast, Malaysia has allocated 164 million USD for women and youth entrepreneurial activities, with additional funds for low-income women and women-owned small businesses. Samina Fazil emphasized the need to allocate a portion of the 17.1 trillion rupees federal budget for 2026-27 to enhance women’s participation in the formal economy, which is essential for sustainable economic development.