Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has pledged to expand support for women entrepreneurs through new initiatives in collaboration with the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI), following the launch of the capital's first dedicated marketplace for women-led businesses.
The commitment was made by CDA Chairman Lt. (r) Sohail Ashraf during a meeting with an IWCCI delegation headed by President Samina Fazil. The two sides reviewed the success of the Women Enterprise Market and discussed future collaboration to strengthen women's economic participation.
Members of the delegation acknowledged the role of the CDA chairman and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) Director Dr. Anam Fatima in facilitating the establishment of the market, saying the allocation of dedicated commercial space made the project possible.
Samina Fazil thanked the CDA, MCI, the State Bank of Pakistan and JazzCash for supporting the initiative, describing the Women Enterprise Market as a major step towards creating greater economic opportunities for women.
Sohail Ashraf commended IWCCI's efforts and said the CDA would continue working with the chamber to introduce more structured programmes aimed at promoting women-led businesses. He stressed that increasing women's participation in entrepreneurship was vital for Islamabad's economic growth.
Dr. Anam Fatima said the city administration remained committed to providing safe and accessible business spaces for women while promoting affordable enterprise models that could be replicated in other parts of the capital.
Fazil described the Women Enterprise Market in G-11 as a landmark initiative, noting that it is the first commercial space in Islamabad dedicated exclusively to women entrepreneurs. The meeting also explored new avenues for cooperation between civic authorities and the private sector to promote women-led enterprises.
