ISLAMABAD: Digitisation and enhanced internet connectivity can help reduce poverty by empowering communities in remote areas where economic opportunities are limited.

These views were expressed during a ceremony held to highlight the outcomes of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund’s (PPAF)

Ba-Ikhtiar project which aimed to provide women entrepreneurs access to technology and financial literacy training to help them establish successful e-commerce stores.

The project, being executed in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) Group’s social impact platform ‘Dil Se’ includes registration of startups and mentorship until the businesses run independently.

Participants were told that the Ba-Ikhtiar project has been expanded to 20 districts of the country.

This broadened project scope will now include diverse skill sets, including pottery, arts and crafts, food preservation, online tutoring organic cosmetics manufacturing etc.

UAE ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Alzaabi was the chief guest of the event and stressed that PTCL Group should continue to introduce similar initiatives to enhance its social impact and empower more women across the country.

A key highlight of the event was Pakistan’s first-ever AI-powered fashion show, where women

entrepreneurs showcased clothing designs created using artificial intelligence, reflecting how creativity and technology can unite to inspire new possibilities.

Speaking at the event, PTCL Group President & CEO, Hatem Bamatraf said the project empowers women to unlock their potential by providing them with the necessary resources and skills.

He emphasised the programme’s broader significance, stating that it was a movement to empower women by providing them necessary resources and skills to succeed.

The event featured a panel discussion, bringing together female achievers from diverse fields.

High achievers like Sania Saeed, Jehan Ara, Azima Dhanji and Zarene Asif shared key insights on global best practices in women empowerment, the role of technology in solving societal challenges and the strategies needed for women to successfully navigate the entrepreneurial landscape.

CEO, PPAF, Nadir Gul Barech highlighted that Ba-Ikhtiar has demonstrated how creativity and technology can unite to bring meaningful change.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2025