Years ago, and sometimes still, “That’s a man’s job” was the traditional remark accepted by all. Today, women are overcoming gender stereotypes and entering traditionally male-dominated sectors in increasing numbers. They are inspiring role models for other women entrepreneurs. We will be looking at the top 5 inspirational Pakistani women entrepreneurs leading the way in innovation, creativity, and success.
Women entrepreneurs are growing yearly, even though men still dominate in numbers. The rise of female entrepreneurs in Pakistan means a definite and favorable impact on both creating employment and the nation’s macroeconomy.
There were 582 million entrepreneurs worldwide in 2022. Post-pandemic shifts created around 274 million women entrepreneurs worldwide in 2020.
Reports for 2022 indicate that only 1% of Pakistani women are business owners, which prevents the nation from reaching its full economic potential. Roughly 49% of Pakistan’s population are women, yet only 22% engage in economic activity. Pakistan continues to have the largest gender gap in the world, ranking 153rd out of 156 nations, according to the Global Gender Gap Index 2020.
The potential of women in Pakistan has been in chains by ingrained patriarchal stereotypes and the few economic choices available to them. But here’s how the 1% of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan are paving the way and encouraging other women to break barriers:
- Nida Farid
Nida Farid is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) graduate with specialist knowledge in aircraft manufacturing, wind energy, and energy efficiency. She founded Save Joules, a website that helps Pakistanis significantly decrease their electricity bills, Pakistan’s first thorough energy flow diagram, energy efficiency awareness campaigns, and commercial and industrial energy evaluations.
Nida is an aerospace engineer and energy conservation consultant dedicated to raising energy efficiency awareness in Pakistan and around the world. She has managed projects for Airbus and Bombardier CRJ planes. Her experience comes from working extensively in North America, Europe, and Asia on wind farm development and management, energy policy, and gas turbine combustion.
- Jehan Ara
Jehan Ara has served as an inspiration to many people for more than 20 years. She has initiated entrepreneurship-promoting programs such as Startup Insiders and P@SHA Launchpad and represented Pakistan’s talent at national and global levels through the ICT Awards and APICTA Awards. Jehan Ara worked with the Pakistani government on the ICT policy, the Cyber Crime Bill, and data protection and privacy. She also engages with students and universities to close the gap between industry and academia and promoting Pakistan’s tech sector around the world are all examples of her policy conversations.
She is currently the CEO of Katalyst Labs, a startup accelerator and innovation center with goals of enabling more women-run entrepreneurial ventures and helping entrepreneurs expand their startups. It supports startups of all genders in scaling and realizing their ultimate value.
The Women Leaders Program at the Katalyst Labs seeks to boost the proportion of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan by enhancing their existing skills.
- Sihah Waris
Sihah is a young tech businesswoman who has built a few fruitful startups over the years, learning the craft of managing a business. She received the “Top Founder” award from the Founder Institute Islamabad and was the first female graduate of the Founder Institute Pakistan.
Sihah began her entrepreneurial venture when she founded Solugix, offering IT solutions to small and medium-sized businesses worldwide. Her second initiative, Rise Mom, is currently funded by her established company Solugix. Rise Mom supports working women by enabling them to stay in remote contact with their kids while at work.
Sihah has spoken on behalf of Pakistan at events hosted by UNICEF, Startup Expo, UNDP, the US Embassy, and HEC. Sihah was one of five representatives from Pakistan at the 2018 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in India.
- Roshaneh Zafar
Roshaneh, a Pakistani development activist specializing in empowering womeneconomically, founded the Kashf Foundation, Pakistan’s first specialized microfinance institution, in 1996. The Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian awards, was given to her in 2007 by Pervez Musharraf in honor of her contributions to development and women’s empowerment. Her work has served on international agenda councils for the World Economic Forum, including ones on Pakistan and the pay inequality gap. She has also been a member of the United Nations consultant group on the inclusionary finance sector.
- Rameeza Moin
Rameeza is the Chief Executive Officer of Transparent Hands, an organization providing free medical and surgical services to meriting Pakistanis. Additionally, the organization coordinates free medical clinics across Pakistan. Rameeza is skilled in business development, management, leadership, and the tech sector. She has received accolades for her business acumen from the Pakistani government, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, She Loves Tech, and P@SHA.
She is the Tamgha-e-Imitiaz recipient. Rameeza spent 15 years as an educator in prestigious institutions before starting Transparent Hands. She established a solid basis for the expansion and advancement of Transparent Hands in Pakistan and the USA through strategic vision, tenacity, and determination.
