The Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, successfully organized the All-Pakistan Women Chambers International Conference, a landmark two-day event aimed at strengthening women-led business institutions across the country. The conference brought together Presidents and representatives of women chambers of commerce and industry from across Pakistan on a single platform to deliberate on key challenges related to business development and organizational operations.
More than 45 women chamber presidents participated in the conference, making it one of the largest gatherings of women business leaders in the country. The event focused on policy dialogue, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and practical solutions to issues faced by women entrepreneurs and women-led chambers.
A key session featured a comprehensive briefing by Bilal Pasha, Director General Trade Organizations, who outlined the legal and regulatory framework governing trade bodies in Pakistan. He attentively listened to concerns raised by the participating presidents and provided clarifications regarding ongoing reforms in the Trade Organizations Act and Rules 2013, as well as future regulatory changes aimed at improving the effectiveness of trade bodies.
The conference also witnessed participation from senior representatives of major institutions, including the State Bank of Pakistan, National Bank of Pakistan, TDAP, SECP, Capacity Building Analytics and JAZZ. These organizations highlighted financial inclusion programs, digital solutions, technology initiatives, and business support schemes designed specifically to empower women entrepreneurs. Officials from the central bank also presented financing schemes and policy measures aimed at facilitating women-led enterprises. Multiple thematic sessions were organized to provide guidance on effective chamber governance, organizational management, regulatory compliance, business development strategies, and opportunities for networking and partnerships. Experts also briefed participants on compliance requirements under the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, enabling chambers to better align with corporate governance standards. The conference was further enriched by the presence of H.E. Mr. Khazar Faradov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, diplomats from various countries, and a large number of women entrepreneurs.
Samina Fazil, President of IWCCI, expressed her sincere appreciation to APJCCI for its strong support and collaboration. She noted that this was the fourth national conference of women chambers and emphasized that the event aimed to develop a unified agenda to address the challenges faced by women-led businesses. She further stated that a joint declaration would be prepared at the conclusion of the conference and presented to relevant stakeholders and policymakers.
Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan, also graced the occasion, and he commended the initiative of IWCCI and APJCCI. He acknowledged the growing contribution of women to Pakistan’s economy and assured government support for policies that facilitate women’s participation in business and leadership roles. Mr. Haroon Akhtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister gracing the occasion said that women are considered the backbone of any economy and government is providing them due support for their effective role in the economy.
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Patron-in-Chief of APJCCI, reiterated that women constitute nearly half of Pakistan’s population and are increasingly emerging as a powerful force in entrepreneurship and economic development. He stressed the need for creating a conducive business ecosystem, improving access to finance, reducing regulatory barriers, and encouraging investment to enable businesses to grow and contribute more effectively to national prosperity.
On this occasion, Zafar Bakhtawari, Chairman of APJCCI, emphasized the crucial role of women in Pakistan’s economic progress and proposed that dedicated representation of women chamber representative should be considered in national policymaking forums, including the allocation of 2-seats in the National Assembly from reserved seat quota.
A special highlight of the conference was a dedicated session featuring women entrepreneurs from Azerbaijan, who shared insights into the opportunities and challenges within their economy and expressed strong interest in collaboration with Pakistani women entrepreneurs. This session underscored the growing people-to-people and business-to-business ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
Overall, the All-Pakistan Women Chambers International Conference served as a significant platform for dialogue, policy advocacy, institutional strengthening, and international cooperation, reaffirming the shared commitment of IWCCI and APJCCI to empower women entrepreneurs and enhance their contribution to sustainable economic growth.