Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar announced that Pakistan is set to introduce a National Women Entrepreneurship Policy aimed at significantly boosting women’s participation in the national economy.

Addressing the Joint Pakistan-Azerbaijan Women Entrepreneurship Dialogue in Islamabad today, Haroon Akhtar said the government is committed to making women’s economic inclusion more than a goal — it is now a core part of the country’s economic strategy. He emphasized that women’s entrepreneurship is central to the national development agenda.

He highlighted that the government is expanding access to SME financing schemes for women entrepreneurs to ensure they can launch and scale successful businesses. “Easier access to financing will help overcome one of the major barriers that women face in starting and growing enterprises,” he said.

Haroon Akhtar also pointed out that the forthcoming National Industrial Policy places a strong emphasis on women entrepreneurs, aiming to create a supportive ecosystem that encourages innovation, skill development, and enterprise growth among women.

The dialogue brought together policymakers, business leaders, and women entrepreneurs from Pakistan and Azerbaijan, fostering exchange on best practices and collaborative avenues for strengthening women-led businesses.