Islamabad, The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) is set to host the National Women Trade Fair on December 11, 2023, in Islamabad, aiming to showcase and promote successful Pakistani women entrepreneurs. This initiative is part of a broader campaign to empower women economically and combat gender-based violence (GBV).

According to Press Information Department, the planning and preparatory meeting for the trade fair was chaired by Ms. Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson of NCSW. The meeting saw the participation of prominent figures like Advisor at National Culture and Heritage Division Mr. Muhammad Kashif Irshad, Minister Women Development of Gilgit Baltistan Ms. Dilshad Bno, representatives from Women Chambers of Commerce across Pakistan, UN Women, and other leading women’s support organizations. The trade fair will highlight the achievements of women entrepreneurs across various sectors, including real estate, furniture, handicrafts, media production, construction, textile, food, sports goods, and exports.

The Chairperson of NCSW emphasized the lack of platforms for women to display their talent and success stories. The trade fair is designed to address this gap by providing a platform for large, medium, and small business owners, especially focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) run by women. The event aims to create strong connectivity among women entrepreneurs and offer networking opportunities with larger businesses for guidance and market expansion.

Ms. Fareeha Usman, representative of UN Women, underscored the potential boost to Pakistan’s GDP through women’s economic empowerment. The trade fair, sponsored and collaborated by UN Women, seeks to support women in achieving financial autonomy and running decent businesses. The meeting concluded with the establishment of coordination committees and the nomination of focal persons for each region to encourage women entrepreneurs’ participation in the trade fair.

This initiative marks a significant step towards women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan and aims to build a strong foundation for future international showcases of Pakistani women’s achievements in business.