Lack of information about; How to start? How to maintain work-life? How to grow and how to earn? Women are scared of these questions and they join 9 to 5 job with kids. They think a job is a better option, if they are not able to work they can easily quit. But little effort and regular time devotion can make house-wives entrepreneurs.
Comparative Analysis of Women Entrepreneurs 1990 till 2022
The study finds some comparisons from 1990 till now 2022 in the female working force. Rise of female ratio from 1990 till 2022 is 48.5% to 48.53%, so there is no significant increment in the female ratio. But the female worker ratio has improved shown in the graph 1990 to 2022.
Female working forces from 1990 till 2021 is shown in graph (Global Economy, 2022). Study finds rise of 10.87% to 22.45% in total workforce from 1990 till 2014, then decline from 2014 to 2021. Closer look at the recent decade shows results.
Study finds decline in female workforce 2014-2021. Only 28.85% females in Pakistan get formal education. Improvement in formal education in females can improve Pakistan’s GDP, as they are half of the population. Pakistani female entrepreneurs are only 1% of the total population (Express Tribune, 2022). There are a lot of opportunities in which females can grow their businesses, as females don’t even realize their actual potential.
Opportunities for Female Entrepreneurs
- Bakery owner
- Home chef
- Travel guide and advisor
- Stitching unit
- Boutique owner
- Handmade art and craft
- Baby sitter
- Day-care center
- Herbal homemade skin care products
- Hostel owner
- Laundry
- Tutor
- Educational & career consultant
- Freelancer(editing, proofreading, consultant, social media marketing)
- Blogger
- Event planner
- Event photographer
- Marriage bureau
- Interior designer
- Cosmetic Seller
- Online wardrobe
Micro-Finances for Women Entrepreneurs
Arrangement of Finances to start are most important and time taking process. There are some suggestions to start a business with a microfinance programs in Pakistan. Interest-free finance must be preferred to start.
Akhuwat (interest free)
Address: 19 Civic Center, Sector A2, Township, Lahore
Phone:+042 111 448 464 and +92 42 35122743
Email: info@akhuwat.org.pk
Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP)
Address: Level Nine, Serena Business Complex, Khayaban-e-Suhrawardy, opposite Convention Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone: +92 (51) 111 253 254
Facsimile: +92 (51) 2072552
Email: info@akrsp.org.pk
National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)
Address: 7th Floor, UBL Building, Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Phone: +92 (51) 2822319, 2822324, Fax: +92 (51) 2822779
Email: info@nrsp.org.pk
Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP)
Address: PRSP Complex 33 Civic Center, Mustafa Town Lahore.
Phone: 042-35422651-4
Email: cs@prsp.org.pk
Web: www.prsp.org.pk
PSIC (Punjab Small Industry Foundation)
Address: Ground Floor, Alfalah Building, The Mall, Lahore, Pakistan.
Phone: 042- 99200439
Email: info@psic.gop.pk
FWBL (First Women Bank Limited)
Address: S.T.S.M. Foundation Building CL/10/20/2, Beaumont Road Civil Lines, Off Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road Karachi – 75530
Phone: 021-35657684-9, 35212182-4
UAN: 111-676-767
SMEDA (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority)
Address: 4th Floor, Building no.3, Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex Egerton Road, Lahore
Pakistan
Phone: (042) 99204701-12, 111-111- 456
Web: https://smeda.org/index.php
HBL (Habib bank limited)
Address: 16th & 17th Floors, HBL Tower, Blue Area, Islamabad.
Toll-Free: 0800-42563 | 0800-34778
Web: https://www.hblmfb.com/
NBP (National Bank of Pakistan)
Address: NBP Building, I.I. Chundrigar Road Karachi, Pakistan.
Phone: +92 -21- 99220100 (30 lines)
+92 -21- 99062000 (60 lines)
WEB: www.nbp.com.pk
UAN: 111 627 627
Khushhali Microfinance Bank
Address: 55-C, 5th Floor, U-Fone Tower, Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, Islamabad
Exchange: 051 – 111 092 092
UAN: +92 (51) 111 047 047
FINCA Microfinance Bank
Address: Khayaban e Iqbal, XX, Block DHA, phase-3 36, Lahore
Phone: (042) 111-111-562
Web: https://finca.pk/
NRSP Microfinance Bank
Address: NRSP Microfinance Bank Limited, Near Baghdad Railway Station, University Road, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
Phone: +92-62-2285126
Email: info@nrspbank.com
UAN: 062-111-011-011
First Microfinance Bank
Address: 16-17 Floor, HBL Tower, Blue Area, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory 44000, PK
Phone: +92 58154 52092
Telenor Microfinance Bank
Head Office: 345, Plot No. 55 , River View Avenue, Block B, Gulberg Greens Islamabad – 44000
Phone: +92 (42) 111 345 100
Email: telenor345@telenor.com.pk
Mobilink Microfinance Bank
Address: 3-A/2 F-8 Markaz Islamabad
Phone: 051-2817076
Email: info@mobilinkbank.com
U Microfinance Bank
Address: 2nd Floor, 13-B, Jinnah Super Market, F-7, Islamabad.
Phone: +92 51 111-182-265
Advans Microfinance Bank
Address: Ground Floor, Bahria Complex 1., Lalazar, M.T. Khan Road, Lalazar, Karachi, Karachi City, Sindh 74000
Phone: (021) 35643670
These are some microfinance suggestions for female entrepreneurs to start and grow a business. Although , it is not easy to start. From a social point of view, society has never been supportive of female entrepreneurs. Despite these barriers if a female steps forward to take a start, the doors of success will be open .
Failures are success in progress.
Albert Einstein
History is full of success stories of female entrepreneurs. Why not you?
Dropping graph of female entrepreneurs must be addressed, as females are 49% of the total Pakistani population. Beyond all responsibilities, there is business life waiting for females. With some social and moral support, female entrepreneurial abilities can be restored. Just be honest and be patient.
Conclusions
Women are 49% of the population. Contribution of female entrepreneurs to Pakistan GDP till 2014 was admirable. Dropping graph of female entrepreneurs must be addressed. Empowering and encouraging female entrepreneurs through microfinance to start and grow has significant powers to boost the GDP. The study has provided some contacts of microfinance institutes to initiate business.
References
Express Tribune. (2022, May 17). Only 1% of women go for entrepreneurship. Retrieved Dec, 2022, from https://tribune.com.pk/story/2356929/only-1-of-women-go-for-entrepreneurship
Global Economy. (2022). Pakistan: Labor force: percent female. Retrieved Dec, 2022, from https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/Pakistan/Labor_force_percent_female/