The Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) have expanded their joint efforts to increase women’s participation in international trade through the Khadijah Women Entrepreneurship Program. As part of the latest phase of the initiative, the two organizations conducted specialized sessions in Sialkot and Gujranwala aimed at providing women entrepreneurs with practical knowledge, digital trade tools, export compliance guidance and information on sustainable business practices. The sessions form part of broader efforts to connect women-led businesses with international markets and provide them with resources that can support their participation in cross-border commerce.
Under the partnership, TDAP’s Women Entrepreneurship Division and PSW’s digital trade facilitation platform are working to connect female-led businesses with international trade opportunities through structured training, mentorship and market access tools. The program is designed to help women entrepreneurs understand global trade requirements, make use of digital platforms and respond to changing international sustainability standards. In Sialkot, PSW and TDAP organized an interactive Focus Group Discussion under Phase 2 of the Khadijah Program in coordination with the Sialkot Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The session brought together local women exporters to discuss their experiences and identify operational challenges affecting cross-border trade. The feedback gathered during the discussion is intended to help refine digital trade facilitation tools and address specific issues faced by women-owned businesses involved in exports. Dr. Mariam Nouman, President of Sialkot Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the initiative and said it addressed the requirements of Sialkot’s export-oriented manufacturing sector while supporting the growth of women-led businesses.
A separate capacity-building workshop was held in Gujranwala in collaboration with GIFT University and the Gujranwala Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The session provided emerging and established women entrepreneurs with practical information covering customs procedures, e-commerce integration, digital marketing, access to finance and green trade standards. Dr. Muhammed Shahid Qureshi, Rector of GIFT University, and Yasmin Dawood, President of Gujranwala Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, acknowledged the collaboration for creating stronger links between academia and industry while improving export readiness among women business owners in the region. The inclusion of digital marketing and e-commerce in the training reflects the increasing role of online platforms in helping businesses reach customers and explore markets outside their local areas, while information on customs and financing provides participants with knowledge relevant to the operational requirements of international trade.
The Khadijah Program is part of PSW and TDAP’s efforts to modernize cross-border trade while increasing women’s participation in economic activity. The initiative has received the World Trade Organization Global Award for Gender Equality in Trade and is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Its approach combines trade facilitation with capacity building and focuses on digitally enabled, environmentally responsible and inclusive trade practices. Syed Aftab Haider, Chief Executive Officer of PSW, said extending the program to major industrial centres such as Sialkot and Gujranwala reflects a commitment to making cross-border trade more accessible to entrepreneurs across Pakistan. He added that Phase 2’s targeted Focus Group Discussions allow the organizations to hear directly from women exporters and use their feedback to develop an inclusive, technology-driven trade ecosystem. Fouzia Perveen Chaudhry, Additional Secretary and Head of the Women Entrepreneurship Division at TDAP, said the partnership is providing women entrepreneurs in key manufacturing cities with tools, training and market access support required to compete in international markets. She also highlighted the importance of connecting women-led businesses in Sialkot and Gujranwala with digital trade facilitation and sustainable trade practices as part of broader efforts to support Pakistan’s exports.
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