Capital opens first women-only marketplace

ISLAMABAD:

inaugurated its first marketplace in G-11 dedicated exclusively to women entrepreneurs, a step aimed at reducing gender gap in business participation, where only 1 per cent of women are entrepreneurs compared to 21 per cent of men.

The market has been designed as a fully cashless commercial space, a significant move in a country where women's financial inclusion is below average. Imtiaz Ali, Senior Deputy Chief Manager at the SBP, said the digital payment model would help women entrepreneurs build practical financial skills and improve access to formal banking channels.

JazzCash joined the initiative as technology partner, aligning with the SBP's 2024-2028 financial inclusion strategy, which seeks to reduce the banking access gender gap from 30 percent to 25 percent.

The initiative comes against a backdrop of limited financing access for women-owned businesses. The 2025 WECON Policy Report found that only 3.2 percent of SME loans in 2022 went to women-led firms, while 91 percent of women remained reluctant to use institutional financing channels. SBP data shows women own only 8 percent of Pakistan's more than 5 million SMEs.

The Women Enterprise Market was inaugurated by MNA Farah Naz Akbar at an event organised by the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry