G-11 market for women termed as landmark Step for women entrepreneurs

The leadership of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Wednesday has formally acknowledged the efforts of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and JazzCash for establishing Islamabad’s first dedicated marketplace for women entrepreneurs in G-11, describing the initiative as a major breakthrough for women-led businesses in the twin cities

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2026) The leadership of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Wednesday has formally acknowledged the efforts of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and JazzCash for establishing Islamabad’s first dedicated marketplace for women entrepreneurs in G-11, describing the initiative as a major breakthrough for women-led businesses in the twin cities.

Founder President of IWCCI, Samina Fazil, said the Women Enterprise Market in G-11 became possible due to the institutional support and commitment of CDA Chairman Lt. (Retd.) Sohail Ashraf and Dr. Anam Fatima, Director MCI, who allocated dedicated commercial space for women entrepreneurs at a time when no formal marketplace existed for them in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

She said that the initiative reflected a positive shift in the approach of public institutions toward promoting women’s economic participation and empowering women entrepreneurs through practical opportunities.

Former Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Naima Ansari, termed the G-11 market a turning point for women entrepreneurs in the twin cities. She said that the market had provided women with a structured and visible platform to transition from home-based and informal businesses into the formal commercial sector.

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Naima Ansari further stated that the involvement of SBP and JazzCash strengthened the initiative by incorporating financial inclusion into the project through a fully cashless business model, encouraging digital transactions and modern business practices among women entrepreneurs.

Both leaders observed that the launch of the market was particularly significant in Pakistan’s current economic landscape, where women’s participation in entrepreneurship remains limited. They noted that only one percent of Pakistani women are currently engaged in entrepreneurship compared to 21 percent of men, while women-led businesses receive merely 3.2 percent of SME financing.

They said that the G-11 Women Enterprise Market represented a rare and encouraging collaboration between government institutions and the private sector in support of women’s economic rights and sustainable business growth.

Samina Fazil said that the IWCCI would continue engaging with public institutions to replicate similar initiatives in other cities, urging chambers of commerce and municipal authorities across Punjab and other regions to adopt the G-11 model.

Naima Ansari added that the twin cities now had an opportunity to demonstrate how women-led enterprises, when provided with proper infrastructure and institutional backing, could evolve into sustainable contributors to Pakistan’s formal economy.