The Islamabad Women Gala 2024 represents a significant two-day event that has united women entrepreneurs and home-based artisans to exhibit their talents and products in Pakistan’s federal capital. This festival serves as a tribute to women’s entrepreneurship and the obstacles they encounter in achieving economic inclusion.
Commencing the day after International Women’s Day, the festival is designed to honour female workers who often confront barriers in pursuing their professional ambitions and sustaining their families due to societal restrictions. The event attracted numerous families to Lok Virsa, where an array of products, including garments, paintings, candles, jewelry, and furniture, were showcased.
Amber Fatima, a print designer, expressed that events like the Islamabad Women Gala offer a valuable platform for women entrepreneurs working from home to expand their customer base. These events assist them in comprehending their market and pricing strategies. Many participants, operating small businesses, also emphasized their dependence on online platforms for marketing.
Maryam Ashraf, a vendor of candles and clothes, emphasized the difficulties of managing her online presence without a team or warehouse. Nonetheless, she expressed contentment with her festival participation, which significantly enhanced her customer outreach.
The festival features over 130 vibrant stalls managed by women entrepreneurs from diverse ages and economic backgrounds. Some, such as Aliya Ahsan, a former educator, transitioned to entrepreneurship after leaving previous jobs or retiring. Ahsan acquired candle-making skills online during the coronavirus pandemic and expressed delight in not squandering time. She noted that now that her children have grown up, she feels she has the time to pursue her entrepreneurial ambitions.
Despite the success and enthusiasm demonstrated at the festival, it is pertinent to recognise that over 50 percent of women-led businesses in Pakistan are unregistered and face growth and scaling challenges. The 2022 Global Gender Report reveals that women suffer from economic under-participation, with only 4.5 percent of them visible in top corporate or legislative roles.
Notwithstanding these challenges, many festival participants conveyed that running a small business provided them with financial independence and a sense of identity. Saeeda Tasleem, who has been in the garment business for 25 years, underscored the benefit of establishing a business as it offers independence and the ability to make personal choices.
The Islamabad Women Gala 2024 has not only afforded a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and products, but it has also highlighted the challenges they encounter in Pakistan. This festival serves as a commemoration of the spirit of female entrepreneurship and resilience in surmounting economic inclusion challenges.
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