Women entrepreneurship took center stage across Pakistan as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) marked Women Entrepreneurship Day (WED) on November 19, coordinating activities nationwide through its 16 field offices, with a flagship ceremony hosted in Karachi. The initiative formed part of a broader global movement recognizing women who drive innovation, generate employment, and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
Looking back at the previous edition, WED brought together a wide range of participants — international and domestic partner organizations, banking institutions, civil society groups, and accomplished women entrepreneurs — all reinforcing SBP’s push to expand women’s role in Pakistan’s economy. That outreach effort included more than 50 sessions reaching over 1,500 women entrepreneurs, while banks extended roughly PKR 24 billion in financing to more than 20,000 women-owned businesses. The event closed with recognition given to both standout entrepreneurs and banks that had shown strong leadership in advancing financial inclusion for women.
Building on that foundation, this year’s program again convened senior figures from banks, women’s business chambers, and entrepreneurship networks to spotlight women’s expanding economic contributions. The lineup included country-wide workshops, campaigns raising awareness of available financing schemes, and mentorship initiatives, all designed to strengthen women’s access to capital and business skills.
The Karachi ceremony spotlighted award categories such as Innovative Leadership, Social Impact, Sustainability Champion, and Resilience, honoring both top-performing banks and successful women-led enterprises. The event also revealed the winners of the Business Idea Competition, highlighting creative ventures put forward by emerging women entrepreneurs.
Through this year’s observance, SBP and its collaborating partners reaffirmed their dedication to building a more inclusive financial system and encouraging greater numbers of women across Pakistan to pursue entrepreneurial paths.
Thank you to the State Bank of Pakistan for supporting women’s entrepreneurship throughout the country. WEDO is proud to stand alongside partners who understand that investing in women is investing in a stronger, more prosperous future for all.
Read more about this initiative: https://archive.sbp.org.pk/press/2025/Pr-18-Sep-2025.pdf