PESHAWAR, Jul 11 (APP):In the heart of Pabbi Bazar Nowshera district, where social taboos and cultural barriers often prevent women from work, one young entrepreneur is rewriting the narrative by establishing a boutique, thus contributing to the country’s development process.
Sumbal Riaz, a postgraduate in economics from the University of Peshawar, chose not the conventional path of government service or overseas study, a dream she once nurtured, but instead opened a boutique to support her family in the present era of price hike in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
Her venture, born out of necessity after her father’s sudden heart attack in 2020, is now a beacon of empowerment and resilience for others.
“When my father needed urgent heart surgery, I knew I had to step up,” Sumbal shared to APP. “My mother sold her jewelry to help me start the boutique immediately. I wanted to do something meaningful, and today, I am proud to employ two tailors and contribute to my household as well for my sweet country.”
With her eyes now set on expanding her business to University Road, Peshawar, Sumbal is part of a growing movement of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan who are challenging societal expectations and driving economic transformation.
Across Pakistan, women who constitute nearly half the population are taking bold steps into business, technology, and industry. Despite facing hurdles such as cultural restrictions, limited mobility, and early marriages, women are making their mark in both urban and rural sectors.
Professor Dr. Zilakat Malik, former Chairman of the Economics Department at the University of Peshawar, emphasized that women entrepreneurship is pivotal to economic growth and industrial development. It’s essential that financial institutions provide easier access to credit for women led businesses, especially in underserved regions.
While highlighting the importance of Govt initiatives like Uraan Pakistan, a five-year national economic reform plan spearheaded by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, he said with a strong emphasis on youth and women empowerment, the program focuses on revitalizing key sectors exports, e-commerce (E-Pakistan), sustainability, and infrastructure, providing excellent opportunities to youth to take advantage of it.
“Uraan Pakistan provides unprecedented opportunities for young women graduates also,” Dr. Zilakat Malik said, adding it also seeks to bridge the rural-urban divide by promoting investment in education, healthcare, and technical training especially in remote areas.”
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the socio-economic disparity between urban centers and rural areas remains a pressing challenge. Poor infrastructure, lack of education and healthcare facilities, and limited employment opportunities have compelled many to migrate to cities.
Dr. Malik warned that this migration puts extraordinary pressure on urban infrastructure and widens the rural-urban divide. “We must prioritize rural development such as entrepreneurship, roads, schools, clean water and modernize agriculture to uplift rural communities, particularly in KP’s merged tribal districts.
The lack of economic infrastructure in these areas often sidelines women from formal employment. However, local success stories like that of Sumbal Riaz reflect the untapped potential that lies in supporting grassroots women entrepreneurs.
Recognizing the need to support women-led enterprises, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has launched a groundbreaking project of “Capacity Enhancement of Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Economic Sector in Pakistan.”
The five-year initiative (2026–2030) will introduce the Women Entrepreneurs Booster Package- a support system to help women scale their businesses and enter formal economic channels. The project aims to create a multi-stakeholder platform involving public and private sectors.
“This partnership will significantly contribute to achieving our national economic goals,” a SMEDA spokesperson said. “It’s not just about business growth; it’s about creating sustainable livelihoods for women.”
The government is also investing in technical education through programs like the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, offering 2,000 engineering internships, talent scholarships, and free laptops for students with a focus on female inclusion.
Engr. Sajjad Khan, former Managing Director of TEVTA KP, stressed the importance of investing in vocational training in districts like Torghar and Kolai Palas, particularly for women.
“Projects worth over Rs. 1 billion have been launched for equipment and training,” he said. “We have signed agreements with 32 private organizations to promote self-employment and boost female technical education.”
The KP government’s initiative to establish a sub-campus of the National College of Arts (NCA) in Peshawar is another step forward, enabling women to pursue careers in architecture, textiles, and fine arts — fields often dominated by men.
The provision of interest-free loans for women entrepreneurs, flexible working hours, paid maternity leave, and childcare facilities are part of broader efforts to create a supportive environment for working women.
these policies aim to bring more women into the workforce and ensure they rise to leadership roles, not just entry-level jobs. However, experts caution that policy alone is not enough rather, we need a cultural shift.
“Women should not be viewed merely as contributors to the economy, but as equal leaders and include in decision-making process. This requires changing mindsets, eliminating systemic barriers, and celebrating local role models like Sumbal.
From the bazaars of Pabbi to national policy halls in Islamabad, the momentum for women’s economic participation in Pakistan is growing. With targeted support, investment in rural development, and cultural transformation, women can become powerful engines of prosperity.
As Sumbal Riaz continues to grow her business and inspire others in her community, she offers a reminder of what’s possible when women are empowered: “We can achieve anything with hard work and belief in ourselves. Entrepreneurship is not just business, rather it’s freedom.”
