Pakistan Single Window and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan have intensified efforts to bring more women entrepreneurs into international trade through training, digital trade facilitation, and market access initiatives under the Khadijah Women Entrepreneurship Program. The two institutions recently organised specialised engagements in Sialkot and Gujranwala to strengthen the export capabilities of women led businesses in these established manufacturing centres.
The sessions covered export compliance, digital trade solutions, and sustainable business practices aimed at helping female entrepreneurs enter and compete in international markets. The collaboration between TDAP’s Women Entrepreneurship Division and PSW seeks to provide women owned enterprises with practical training, mentorship, and digital tools while connecting them with international trade opportunities.
In Sialkot, PSW and TDAP held a Focus Group Discussion as part of Phase II of the Khadijah Program in partnership with Sialkot Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, bringing together women exporters to highlight challenges faced in cross border trade and provide feedback on existing trade processes. Doctor Mariam Nouman, President of Sialkot WCCI, welcomed the initiative, noting that it addressed the needs of the city’s export focused manufacturing community and could support the long term growth of women owned enterprises.
A separate capacity building workshop was conducted in Gujranwala in collaboration with GIFT University and Gujranwala WCCI, focusing on customs requirements, e-commerce, digital marketing, financing opportunities, and environmentally sustainable trade standards. Doctor Muhammed Shahid Qureshi, Rector of GIFT University, and Yasmin Dawood, President of Gujranwala WCCI, welcomed the partnership, highlighting its role in strengthening links between academia and industry and improving the export preparedness of women entrepreneurs.
The Khadijah Program has also received the WTO Global Award for Gender Equality in Trade and is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030, combining trade facilitation with skills development, digital adoption, environmental responsibility, and inclusive economic participation. Syed Aftab Haider, Chief Executive Officer of PSW, said extending the programme to industrial hubs such as Sialkot and Gujranwala demonstrated the institutions’ focus on improving access to international trade for entrepreneurs across the country, while Fouzia Perveen Chaudhry, Additional Secretary and Head of TDAP’s Women Entrepreneurship Division, said the partnership was equipping women entrepreneurs in major manufacturing centres with the knowledge, digital capabilities, and market access support needed to compete globally.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
