ISLAMABAD: PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G) highlighted its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Ba-Ikhtiar, at the prestigious GITEX 2024 event in Dubai.
As part of the Expand North Star segment, two women entrepreneurs, Farhat ul Ain and Marrium Hussain, represented the program. Originally artisans from Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they have transformed into digital entrepreneurs with the support of Ba-Ikhtiar, showcasing their traditional embroidery and sharing their inspiring journeys at the Pakistan Enclosure.
The Ba-Ikhtiar initiative, a collaboration between PTCL and the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), focuses on empowering small-scale female entrepreneurs. Participants are provided with smartphones, preloaded SIM cards, and hands-on digital training, including e-commerce and financial management. Through platforms like Daraz and mobile wallets like UPaisa, these women can expand their businesses globally. This initiative not only fosters entrepreneurship but also helps women gain financial independence by integrating them into Pakistan’s rapidly growing digital economy.
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The program has already produced two successful batches of female entrepreneurs, who now use digital tools to manage and grow their businesses. Their success at GITEX is a testament to PTCL Group’s commitment to digital inclusion and its vision of empowering marginalized communities.
PTCL Group CEO, Hatem Bamatraf, praised the resilience of these women and emphasized the role of Ba-Ikhtiar in shaping the future of Pakistan’s socio-economic landscape. He highlighted that the initiative provides a solid foundation for sustainable development by ensuring women’s active participation in the country’s economy.
The participation of these women at a global platform like GITEX reflects the far-reaching impact of the Ba-Ikhtiar initiative, promoting local craftsmanship on an international scale while encouraging other women to follow a similar path to entrepreneurship.
