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PESHAWAR, Sep 24 (APP):With an arrival of the wedding and engagement season in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the beauty parlor business is once again started booming in the province.
For women beauty parlors, it not just about makeup of brides and others guests, but it’s about their financial empowerment helping them for dignified living in the wake of high inflation and price hike in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Hoor Bibi, a 30-year-old resident of beautician of Nowshera, is among the many women whose entrepreneurial spirit and dedication has brought prosperity to her family.
Owning a modest yet thriving beauty parlor since 2018, Hoor now earns up to Rs. 25,000 per bridal makeover, playing a vital role in her household’s financial stability.
“I started this business when I couldn’t find a suitable government job after completing my education. Since then, I have never looked back,” said Hoor, her hands busy preparing a bride for her big day.
Running a beauty parlor is not an easy task, she says, but with dedication, skill, and the unwavering support of her husband, she has made it a success.
“It usually takes two to three hours to complete a bridal makeup session. Its painstaking work, but rewarding,” she added. Hoor now dreams of opening a beauty parlor school in her hometown, despite facing sociocultural taboos.
“Education is key for success of any business,” she insisted. “Before entering any profession, especially for girls, completing education is important. It gives dignity and independence.”
Like Hoor Bibi, hundreds of thousands of Pakistani women are breaking stereotypes and contributing to the nation’s economy whether through entrepreneurship, activism, education, or public service.
From trailblazers like Fatima Jinnah, Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto to international icons like Malala Yousafzai and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Pakistani women have made the country proud on global platforms for their hard work and dedication.
Experts agreed that vocational and technical education was vital for empowering women and addressing youth unemployment.
“Technical and vocational training provides employable skills and practical knowledge,” said Prof. Dr. Ejaz Khan, former Chairman, International Relations Department at University of Peshawar. “But in KP, progress is hampered by cultural taboos, early marriages, limited resources besides poverty.”
Dr. Ejaz highlighted several systemic challenges such as underqualified teachers, outdated curriculum, and lack of modern infrastructure.
He praised the Prime Minister’s youth empowerment and internship program, skill verification program, which certifies workers trained through informal channels being an important step in bridging the gap between traditional learning and market demand.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem, Assistant Professor of the Economics Department, University of Swabi told APP that around 64% of Pakistan’s population comprises youth, with 40.3% aged 15-29.
“This youth bulge will double by 2050. To accommodate them, we need millions of jobs and robust vocational training,” he warned.
The growing demand for skilled labour in CPEC-related projects and Gulf countries presents a golden opportunity but only if Pakistan can equip its youth with the right vocational skills.
In 2019 alone, over 11 million Pakistanis sought employment abroad, with nearly 65% of remittances coming from Gulf states. More skilled migration could significantly increase national income.
The federal government has launched several programs to support technical education and women empowerment. nclude 2,000 internships for engineers, youth transformation programs in 20 underdeveloped districts, innovation Fund & National Top Talent Scholarships, free laptop schemes and internship program for youth.
Under PM youth empowerment vision 2025, the digital hub program was launched for providing online training training to youth in different fields including IT.
Engr. Sajjad Khan, former MD of KP’s Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA), stressed the need for massive investment in infrastructure, transport, and training for employment generation and empowerment of youth.
He said agreements with 32 private firms were signed to promote self-employment. TEVTA’s budget has grown from Rs 3 billion in 2016-17 to Rs 7 billion, reflecting growing recognition of its importance.
Notably, the KP Government also announced a sub-campus of the National College of Arts (NCA) in Peshawar, enabling local students to pursue creative arts without having to relocate to Lahore.
The Social Welfare and Women Development Department of KP has also been providing interest-free loans to poor women involved in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Hoor Bibi story is not just one of personal success but a reflection of a larger movement.
As more women like her join the workforce, start businesses, and pursue education, they are not just improving their own lives but empowering Pakistan’s economy, reshaping its society, and building a better future for the next generation.
Empowering women is no longer just a social goal but an economic necessity. The path to prosperity lies in unlocking the full potential of Pakistan’s women.