PESHAWAR: The Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Peshawar Division (WCCIPD) has submitted a set of recommendations for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Budget 2026-27, calling for policy reforms, financial support measures and targeted investments to strengthen women-led businesses and promote inclusive economic growth across the province.
The proposed women economic empowerment package focuses on improving access to finance, industrial infrastructure, markets and institutional support for women entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, freelancers, startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to the chamber, women-owned businesses have significant potential to contribute to economic growth, employment generation, exports and investment. However, barriers such as limited financing opportunities and inadequate business support continue to restrict their participation in the economy.
Proposal for dedicated women development fund
Among the key recommendations is the establishment of a Provincial Women Development Fund to provide revolving financing facilities, including micro-enterprise loans, SME growth financing, industrial support loans, credit guarantees and markup support schemes.
The chamber has also proposed a Provincial Women Economic Empowerment Framework backed by gender-responsive budgeting and dedicated allocations for women enterprise development.
WCCIPD further urged the provincial government to include women chambers of commerce in economic advisory councils, budget consultation forums and industry, trade and investment boards to ensure greater participation of women entrepreneurs in policymaking.
Focus on entrepreneurship and industrial inclusion
The recommendations call for entrepreneurship and skills development programmes in sectors including agriculture, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, tourism, information technology, gems and jewellery.
The chamber also proposed the establishment of Women Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Incubation Centers to support product development, research, innovation, export readiness and digital commerce.
To improve industrial participation, WCCIPD recommended reserving space for women entrepreneurs in special economic zones, industrial estates and Small Industries Development Board (SIDB) industrial areas. It also suggested the development of dedicated women industrial parks equipped with business support facilities.
Tax relief and business facilitation measures
The chamber proposed several measures aimed at improving the business environment for women-owned enterprises, including business facilitation desks in government departments, simplified registration procedures, one-window support systems and reduced compliance requirements.
It also recommended tax relief for women entrepreneurs, including exemptions from professional tax and board tax for women-owned startups and home-based businesses.
In addition, WCCIPD called for reserving a share of provincial public procurement for women-owned enterprises and introducing procurement preference mechanisms to increase their participation in government supply chains.
Proposal for institutional support
As part of its institutional reform agenda, the chamber proposed the creation of a Women Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development Center (WEEDC) to coordinate financing, incubation services, exports, market access, policy support and implementation of women-focused economic initiatives across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The chamber said the recommendations are intended to support enterprise development, strengthen competitiveness, create employment opportunities, expand exports and promote financial inclusion throughout the province.
WCCIPD also expressed its commitment to working with the provincial government and other stakeholders to advance an inclusive economic development strategy that fully utilizes the potential of women entrepreneurs.
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