In a country where women’s participation in the workforce remains low, a new initiative by Visa is aiming to unleash the untapped potential of female entrepreneurs. Visa, the global leader in digital payments, has set its sights on Pakistan with the launch of She’s Next – an advocacy program designed to empower and uplift women-owned small businesses through funding, training, and mentorship.
The inaugural edition of She’s Next in Pakistan, launched earlier this year in partnership with HBL, Pakistan’s leading bank, has already made waves by awarding grants worth $ 50,000 to five women-led businesses. But the program’s ambitions extend far beyond mere financial support. With the recent initiation of the She’s Next Club, Visa is fostering a community of like-minded women entrepreneurs, providing hands-on training, and facilitating valuable networking opportunities.
The timing couldn’t be more crucial. According to Visa’s 2023 Women SMB Digitization Index survey, women entrepreneurs in Pakistan are eager to learn from their peers and require specific assistance in key areas. Estimates suggest that 61% need help overcoming business problems, 54% want support developing online sales and 43% seek guidance on building a team of employees. [1]
To read the full article, subscribe and support independent business journalism in Pakistan
The content in this publication is expensive to produce. But unlike other journalistic outfits, business publications have to cover the very organizations that directly give them advertisements. Hence, this large source of revenue, which is the lifeblood of other media houses, is severely compromised on account of Profit’s no-compromise policy when it comes to our reporting. No wonder, Profit has lost multiple ad deals, worth tens of millions of rupees, due to stories that held big businesses to account.
Hence, for our work to continue unfettered, it must be supported by discerning readers who know the value of quality business journalism, not just for the economy but for the society as a whole.
