The format of this event enabled all guests to not only meet and interact with the Chief Guest, but have access to each other....
women entrepreneurs
With the improvement in the living standards and female literacy rate in Pakistan, women have started reducing their reliance on male members for living by creating new avenues to earn money. With the growth of trading class in the society during past centuries, women started learning basic business skills and acquired formal entrepreneurship knowledge to start up their own business ventures. With the intent of sharing financial burden of family, most women started becoming entrepreneurs. There are a good number of women who choose to start their business venture as a profession and means to secure empowerment in the society.
Ladiesfund (a vehicle of Dawood Global Foundation - DGF) was established in 2007 as an initiative to provide financial security to women and to promote and train women entrepreneurs. It aims to integrate the entrepreneurial needs based on the economic and social aspects of the local communities, with respect to greater women participation in the workforce. Also, every year, the initiative acknowledges female entrepreneurs through Ladiesfund Women’s Awards to lift their spirits so that they do better in future.
Recently, German Consulate Karachi in collaboration with DGF organised the Ladiesfund Legacy Luncheon to celebrate a decade of award winners. Around 75 dynamic women entrepreneurs, trailblazers and icons were honoured and participated in a warm afternoon affair held at the German Consulate.
“This was a humbling experience to have a gathering for ten years of Ladiesfund winners,” stated Tara Uzra Dawood, President, DGF and Ladiesfund. “We’re delighted to be a bridge between Pakistani women professionals and entrepreneurs.”
Spotted at the exclusive event were Sheema Kermani, Noorjehan Bilgrami, Nilofer Saeed, Yasmin Lari, Sindh rural icon Champa, Zeenat S. Ahmed, Peng Qureshi, Madiha Sultan Tai, among others. A special dance performance of Kathak classical dance was performed by Anjaleen Maryam Agrawalla, as well as a guitar performance by musician Arieb Azhar.
The format of this event enabled all guests to not only meet and interact with the Chief Guest, but have access to each other.
There was a showcase of 10 Made in Pakistan women entrepreneur artisan stalls including Beads Desired, Crafts, Pooja’s, Meem Wear Your Couture, Wahda, Rangoli by Em Zee, Oddweaver, Hunerkari and Firefly. Each of these women not only exhibited innovative, ethnic items, but they also educated girls as part of the foundation’s ‘Educate a Girl’ initiative.
—Mubashir Ahmed
