The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has set up a Rs 50 million endowment fund to help women start and grow their own businesses. The announcement was made by Finance Advisor Muzammil Aslam during a visit to the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Peshawar.
The fund will support economic activities and entrepreneurship among women across the province. In addition, the government has promised Rs 5 million to upgrade the chamber’s facilities so it can offer better training and services. Officials also agreed to help with lower interest rates on loans for women-led businesses.
A new Women Incubation Centre will be established at the chamber. It will give women entrepreneurs practical help with business planning, skill development and growth. Chamber leaders welcomed the steps, saying they show the value of talking between the government and the private sector.
President of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peshawar Division, Qurat ul Ain, thanked the advisor for listening to the chamber’s suggestions. Other members pointed to opportunities in food processing and agriculture where women can build successful enterprises if given proper support.
The chamber plans to work closely with the provincial government to put these measures into action. The goal is to make it easier for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to access finance, markets and training so they can contribute more fully to the local economy.