Pakistan to Launch First National Women Entrepreneurship Policy

Pakistan is preparing to introduce its first National Women Entrepreneurship Policy, a landmark initiative designed to strengthen women’s economic participation through dedicated financing, tailored banking products and expanded support programmes. This upcoming policy reflects a growing national effort to remove barriers that limit women from starting, scaling and sustaining their businesses. It also aligns with broader commitments to advance financial inclusion by activating the State Bank’s Banking on Equality guidelines and the SECP’s Women Equality in Finance Policy, creating a unified approach to women’s economic empowerment.

According to official documents, the policy sets ambitious goals aimed at measurable, nationwide impact. One of the primary targets is to raise women’s employment within the SME sector to 5 percent from the current 2 percent. The policy also aims to increase the number of women exporters by 50 percent and expand co-working spaces for women by 20 percent to provide accessible and safe business environments.

Another significant component includes allocating 15 percent of SME Fund proceeds to women entrepreneurs, ensuring that more women-led businesses gain access to capital that has historically been out of reach. Additionally, the policy recommends reserving 5 percent of the Export Development Fund for initiatives specifically led by women, while also ensuring that at least 100,000 women entrepreneurs gain access to vital business information, training and market insights. The framework also places special focus on supporting 20 percent of BISP beneficiaries living in high-risk disaster zones to help strengthen their financial resilience.

The announcement was made during an event in Islamabad hosted by SMEDA and the FPCCI in honor of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. The gathering brought together more than 21 Women’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry from across Pakistan, highlighting the growing influence and determination of women participating in the country’s economic landscape. Speaking at the event, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan shared that the policy would be launched soon. He stressed that the government is working to place women at the heart of economic decision-making and that women entrepreneurs are already proving themselves as key contributors to sustainable economic growth.

A central feature of the upcoming policy is the Women Entrepreneurship Portal, currently being developed with support from the FCDO. This AI-powered platform will serve as a digital gateway for women to access business support organisations, regulatory guidance, mentorship networks and growth opportunities. The portal is designed to streamline access to services that are often scattered and difficult for women to navigate, especially those in rural or underserved regions. It also aims to strengthen communication between women entrepreneurs and institutions that can help them flourish.

The policy is further supported by initiatives under the ADB’s Women Inclusive Finance Programme, valued at 2.2 million dollars. These efforts include digital engagement for women who do not use smartphones, ensuring that the benefits of digital financial services reach them as well. The programme is also developing multilingual training content, re-skilling plans for homemakers returning to work and targeted support structures for rural enterprises run by women. Plans for a dedicated institutional hub and a specialised cell are also underway to coordinate national-level efforts more efficiently.

Another major component of the policy is a new product development support initiative designed to help women strengthen their competitiveness in local and international markets. This includes the establishment of a design cell at SMEDA in partnership with well-known fashion and textile universities. The programme will help women-led businesses improve their products, prepare for export markets and connect with grant opportunities. It will also support women’s participation in global exhibitions, enabling them to showcase their work and build international connections. Access to finance for home-based and micro-level women entrepreneurs will be prioritised through simplified processes and targeted banking solutions.

The policy places strong emphasis on climate-smart business practices as well. With climate risks increasing across Pakistan, the framework includes plans to offer green financing options and support circular economy projects that allow women to build resilient and sustainable enterprises.

Pakistan’s first National Women Entrepreneurship Policy represents a significant step toward building an inclusive economic system where women have the tools, resources and opportunities needed to succeed. The combination of financial access, digital empowerment, institutional support and targeted developmental programmes has the potential to reshape the landscape for women entrepreneurs nationwide.