ISLAMABAD: A growing number of women connected to tech-enabled start-ups in the country face cultural deterrents, such as a lack of support for mothers, difficulty networking and an absence of reasonably priced and safe commuting options, a new publication has found.

Launched by Media Matters for Democracy and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung on Saturday, SheConnects – tech-enabled women entrepreneurship in Pakistan found that these deterrents limit the growth of women’s start-ups.

The research also highlights challenges within the taxation system that have been deemed unfriendly to start-ups by multiple interviewees. The author of the study recommended creating new tax brackets that are responsive to the particular challenges that face start-ups that have yet to become profitable.

The research also celebrates the engagement of government initiatives and private sector incubators and accelerators as enables for women entrepreneurs.

However, the study found the role of academic institutions to be questionable. The author recommended that institutions offer expertise on local markets to increase connections with the industry and the focus on innovative and tech-enabled solutions.

Speaking at the launch of the report, acting Ambassador of the Netherlands Marain Kappeyne said: “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 recognised 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.”

She also added that women should join forces and support each other in such matters.

Media Matters for Democracy co-founder and the author of the study, Sadaf Khan, said the research is a very basic mapping of the growing trend of women entrepreneurs entering the tech-enabled economy in Pakistan.

“Based on interviews with 10 women entrepreneurs, I have mapped the enabling factors, the pitfalls, the challenges and possible solutions,” she said.

“It was very interesting to note that technology is not just enabling women entrepreneurs but actually expanding opportunities for different kinds of home-based workers who start working with these start-ups.”

Dr Jens Jokisch, deputy head of the German mission, 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.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2018