Tech-Enabled Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

Technology in general had been a promoter for women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. A rising number of women are using technology to initiate a business in Pakistan. Women entrepreneurs in Pakistan are making good use of technology in all aspects of setting up and running their entrepreneurial set ups.

Tech-Enabled Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

Women new comers in business world face cultural hindrance including lack of a supportive environment and difficulty in networking for business development, the lack of reasonably priced and safe commuting options is hindering women’s mobility limiting the growth of their start-ups.

These conclusions were drawn in a new publication ‘SheConnects – Tech-Enabled Women Entrepreneurship in Pakistan’, launched by Media Matters for Democracy and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES).

The role of academic institutions has been found to be questionable and the author recommends academic institutions to offer expertise about local markets, to increase connections with the industry and to increase the focus on innovative, tech enabled solutions.

Her Excellency, Marain Kappeyne, Acting Ambassador of Netherland appreciated the research saying, “I think it is a very timely report, on what are the challenges Pakistani women can face and how can technology and internet help. The recommendations are very clear and I recognized many of them as in my country it was and still is difficult for women to start a business. I think this research is giving tools to Pakistani women.”

Sadaf Khan, co-founder and director Media Matters for Democracy states that this study is a very basic mapping of the growing trend of women entrepreneurs entering the tech enabled economy in Pakistan. Based on interviews with ten women entrepreneurs, I have mapped the enabling factors, the pitfalls, the challenges and possible solutions.

Deputy Head of the German Mission Dr Jokish noted that women around the world face similar issues when they step out to work or use technology. He stressed that we need to work collectively to overcome the barriers.

Sidra Saeed, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, noted that “Women entrepreneurs to face a lot of challenges. These include patriarchal enrooted issues and others like lack of education, knowledge etc. therefore this communication on women in digital entrepreneurship needs to be strongly embedded not only as an economic matter but also culturally.