KARACHI: Pakistan Single Window (PSW), in collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Mashreq Bank, brought together trade, financial and enterprise development institutions in Karachi to help women entrepreneurs access finance, export support and international market opportunities.
The session, held under PSW’s Khadijah Women Entrepreneurship Program, focused on “Access to Opportunity: Enabling Women Entrepreneurs” and provided participants with guidance on business formalisation, export procedures, digital banking, trade finance, e-commerce and cross-border trade.
Representatives from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and IBA Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, Innovation & Research also participated.
The event was attended by MNA Syed Ali Qasim Gillani, FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, United Business Group Patron-in-Chief S. M. Tanveer and representatives of trade and financial institutions.
Mashreq Bank delivered a session on “Women, Finance & Global Trade,” covering financial inclusion, digital banking and trade finance options available to women-led businesses seeking to expand into domestic and international markets.
PSW officials briefed participants on Pakistan’s digital trade environment and the role of integrated, paperless regulatory processes in simplifying cross-border transactions.
TDAP provided guidance on export development, market access and international trade opportunities, while SMEDA focused on enterprise development and business readiness. SBP and Mashreq Bank discussed financial inclusion and digital financial services.
FPCCI contributed perspectives from the wider business community, while IBA-CEDIR focused on entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise development.
PSW CEO Syed Aftab Haider said the Karachi engagement was aimed at creating practical pathways for women entrepreneurs seeking to participate in cross-border trade.
“By bringing together trade bodies, enterprise development institutions, financial sector stakeholders and regulatory organisations, we are helping women-led businesses access the knowledge, tools and institutional linkages needed to grow and connect with international markets,” he said.
FPCCI Vice President Qurrat ul Ain said access to markets must be supported by finance, digital tools and a clear understanding of trade processes if women-led businesses are to grow sustainably.
Saquib Fayyaz Magoon said women entrepreneurs were becoming an increasingly important part of Pakistan’s business community and needed stronger links with financial services, trade institutions and export support systems.
The Khadijah Program is designed to connect women-led enterprises with Pakistan’s digital trade infrastructure and support institutions as they move from domestic business activity towards formalisation, export readiness and participation in international markets.