Women linked to cottage industries, small businesses to be integrated into SME sector

PM Shehbaz Sharif Announces Major Initiative to Empower Women in Small Businesses

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled a significant initiative to integrate women from cottage industries and small businesses into the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.

The announcement was made on International Women’s Day during a review meeting on ongoing SME reforms under the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) held on Saturday.

Support for Women Entrepreneurs

During the meeting, the prime minister emphasized the importance of women’s economic empowerment and directed authorities to provide capital and resources to businesswomen in the cottage industry on a priority basis. He also instructed officials to facilitate low-cost loans for women under the Youth Loan Scheme, enabling them to expand their businesses.

Highlighting the need to support educated and skilled women, especially in rural and remote areas, he urged the introduction of initiatives that would help them achieve financial independence through entrepreneurship.

To further strengthen this effort, the prime minister ordered the establishment of facilitation centers and training institutes dedicated to supporting women-led small businesses. He also announced the formation of a special committee to develop a comprehensive plan for empowering women through business opportunities, with recommendations to be submitted soon.

International Women’s Day Address

Speaking at a separate event marking International Women’s Day on March 8, the prime minister reiterated that true women’s empowerment could only be achieved through equal access to education, skill development, and employment opportunities.

“It is our mission and unwavering commitment to ensure the emancipation of the country’s female population,” he stated.

The event, hosted at the Prime Minister’s House, brought together prominent women from various fields, including cabinet members, legislators, entrepreneurs, and activists. Organized by the Ministry of Human Rights and the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the gathering underscored the government’s commitment to gender equality.

Launch of the First-Ever Gender Parity Report

On this occasion, the prime minister launched the capital’s first-ever Gender Parity Report, prepared by NCSW and UNFPA. The report identifies challenges and proposes solutions in critical areas such as education, health, governance, political representation, and justice. Shehbaz Sharif also announced a Working Women’s Endowment Fund to support working women in overcoming modern challenges.

Commitment to Gender Inclusion

Minister for Law, Justice, and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar noted that, following the prime minister’s directive, ministries and departments had been tasked with ensuring women-inclusive policies. This initiative has successfully increased women's representation in departmental boards.

He also pointed out Pakistan’s ranking of 145th out of 146 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index—just above Afghanistan—stating that the ranking did not accurately reflect ground realities. He called on relevant organizations to reassess the data, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving gender equality in Pakistan.

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