Finance minister calls for digital inclusion, skills training for women entrepreneurs

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has said women’s economic participation, digital financial inclusion and skills development are essential for sustainable and inclusive growth.

He made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Peshawar.

The delegation was led by the chamber’s President Ms. Quratulain and included Senior Vice President Ms. Zaara Imtiaz and Secretary General Ms. Saba Hidayat.

The delegation briefed the finance minister on the chamber’s initiatives to promote women entrepreneurship in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

These initiatives include advocacy, capacity building, startup incubation, skills development and support for emerging sectors such as handicrafts, textiles, food processing, gems and jewellery, agriculture, information technology and beauty products.

The meeting focused on women entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, access to finance and wider economic opportunities for women-led businesses.

The delegation also discussed issues relating to formal finance, banking services, market linkages, logistics, certification and business development support.

It shared proposals to strengthen the policy framework for women-owned enterprises and increase their participation in the formal economy.

Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb appreciated the chamber’s work and said the government was committed to creating an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs.

He said women-led enterprises had an important role in Pakistan’s economic development.

The minister said increasing women’s participation in the workforce, improving access to education, expanding digital and financial literacy and equipping women with market-relevant skills required a coordinated long-term effort by the public and private sectors.

He also highlighted the government’s efforts to advance digital financial inclusion.

Aurangzeb said social protection payments were increasingly being routed through digital wallets to strengthen women’s financial empowerment and give them greater control over their finances.

He said digital literacy and access to modern financial services would remain central to expanding economic opportunities for women.

The finance minister also pointed to the potential of Pakistan’s digital economy and encouraged the chamber to promote upskilling and reskilling of young women in information technology, freelancing, software development and digital services.

He said these skills could help women compete in international markets and contribute to Pakistan’s export earnings.

Aurangzeb said the government would continue to facilitate entrepreneurship through an enabling policy environment, while the private sector should remain the main driver of investment, innovation and job creation.

The delegation thanked the finance minister for the engagement and appreciated the government’s support for women entrepreneurs.

Both sides agreed to remain engaged on practical measures to strengthen women’s economic participation, improve financial inclusion and support private sector-led growth.