PTCL & PPAF Expand Ba-Ikhtiar Women Empowerment Initiative Across Pakistan
The flagship program now targets 2,300+ women in 23 flood-affected cities, combining digital skills and entrepreneurship for economic self-reliance.
PTCL Group, in partnership with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), announced the expansion of its flagship women empowerment initiative, Ba-Ikhtiar, during GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai. Originally piloted to support 100 underprivileged women entrepreneurs in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the program has now been extended to 23 flood-affected cities across Pakistan, aiming to up-skill over 2,300 women and provide them with sustainable pathways to economic independence.
The Ba-Ikhtiar initiative combines digital literacy, financial management, and practical trade skills such as stitching, pottery, handicrafts, food preservation, and organic cosmetics. By leveraging PTCL Group’s advanced digital infrastructure and connectivity alongside PPAF’s community outreach, participants are connected with the tools, platforms, and opportunities needed to transform their skills into long-term livelihoods.
Speaking at the launch, Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO of PTCL & Ufone 4G, emphasized the program’s impact: “PTCL Group leverages its digital expertise and infrastructure to enhance the well-being of underprivileged communities. Through our social impact platform, ‘Dil Se’, we have touched thousands of lives with transformative initiatives. Ba-Ikhtiar stands out as a flagship program that sets a new benchmark in sustainable social empowerment, and we are proud to extend this opportunity to more talented women across Pakistan.”
Nadir Gul Barech, CEO of PPAF, highlighted the collaborative approach: “The expansion of the Ba-Ikhtiar program marks a significant milestone in our journey to empower women from vulnerable communities. PPAF’s partnership with PTCL Group allows us to combine social development with digital innovation to create real pathways for women to achieve economic self-reliance. We are glad to enable women across Pakistan to build livelihoods that are both sustainable and transformative for their communities.”
The program’s training modules are carefully designed to equip women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in today’s digital economy. Beyond skill-building, Ba-Ikhtiar fosters entrepreneurship, financial independence, and social mobility, enabling participants to contribute meaningfully to their households and communities. By integrating technology with traditional skill sets, the initiative ensures that women are prepared to access broader markets, improve income generation, and achieve long-term economic security.
Ba-Ikhtiar also exemplifies how corporate social responsibility and community development can work hand in hand. PTCL’s digital platforms provide participants with access to e-commerce, marketing, and online networking opportunities, while PPAF ensures outreach to the most vulnerable regions, making the program inclusive and impactful.
The expansion represents a shared vision of building a digitally inclusive Pakistan where women are empowered through knowledge, technology, and opportunity. With thousands of women set to benefit from Ba-Ikhtiar’s next phase, the initiative promises to foster a generation of empowered female entrepreneurs capable of driving change in their communities and the broader economy.
By combining practical skills with digital literacy, financial guidance, and entrepreneurial training, Ba-Ikhtiar is more than just a program—it is a transformative movement that addresses systemic barriers to women’s economic participation in Pakistan. The initiative’s success underscores the potential of scalable, inclusive, and sustainable interventions that empower women to achieve both personal and societal growth.
