Pakistan Single Window (PSW), in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan’s (TDAP) Women Entrepreneurship (WE) Division and the Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Sialkot, successfully organized the Khadijah Women Entrepreneurship Program in Sialkot. The initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of women-led businesses by providing practical knowledge and tools to expand into global markets through cross-border trade, digital commerce, and sustainable practices.
The Khadijah Program provided women entrepreneurs with essential skills in areas such as e-commerce management, customs procedures, access to finance, digital marketing, and compliance with international trade standards. Designed for women operating in one of Pakistan’s most active export hubs, the program sought to build confidence and competence among participants to engage in export-oriented business activities.
Through expert-led mentorship and hands-on workshops, PSW and TDAP are enabling women business owners to adopt modern business practices and align their operations with global sustainability and trade compliance frameworks. The program emphasized the importance of integrating green and ethical business models, reflecting a growing global shift toward environmentally responsible trade.
The Khadijah Women Entrepreneurship Program has already earned international recognition, receiving the World Trade Organization’s “International Prize for Gender Equality in Trade.” This acknowledgment highlights the program’s impact in promoting inclusive economic participation and advancing gender equality in commerce. By building the capacity of women entrepreneurs, the initiative is also contributing to Pakistan’s broader goals of diversifying exports and enhancing competitiveness in global markets.
Leaders and stakeholders from PSW, TDAP, and the Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Sialkot, including Aftab Haider, Mariam Siddiqa, Mahina Ghalib, Faisal Butt, Nadia J. Seth, Sheharyar Tahir, Adil Majeed, Rabia Aamir, Gulalai Khan, Tahleel Malik, and Waqas Aziz, participated in the program, reflecting a strong multi-institutional collaboration. The involvement of FPCCI and SMEDA further underscores the alignment of national trade and entrepreneurship policies with efforts to empower women in business.
The program’s successful execution in Sialkot marks an important step in expanding PSW’s efforts to build a gender-inclusive trade ecosystem in Pakistan. By combining technology, capacity-building, and institutional support, initiatives like the Khadijah Program are equipping women entrepreneurs with the skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the country’s export growth and sustainable development.
As PSW and TDAP continue to strengthen their collaboration, the Khadijah Women Entrepreneurship Program stands as a model for empowering women-led enterprises and shaping a new generation of export-ready entrepreneurs who are ready to compete on the global stage.
