Booklet Launch and Exhibition Featuring Stories and Products of Courageous Women Entrepreneurs
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Bargad, a leading youth development organization, in collaboration with Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), organized the annual Policy and Parliamentarians’ Forum under the “My Dream, My Business (MDMB)” project. The forum aimed to highlight the need for women’s economic inclusion at the policy level and amplify the voices of grassroots women entrepreneurs in the decision-making process.
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Senator Bushra Anjum Butt participated as the Chief Guest, while Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Punjab for Price Control & Commodities Management, Ms. Salma Butt, was the Guest of Honor. The event was also graced by Prof. Dr. Uzma Quraishi, Vice Chancellor LCWU, Irum Anjum, Vice Chancellor, Kinnaird College, Ahmad Khan, CEO, Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), Shahid Rehmat, Chairperson YDF,
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Sabiha Shaheen,Executive Director Bargad and Saem Ali Dada, Member, Standing Committee on National Economic Policies & Reforms, FPCCI.
Prominent stakeholders, parliamentarians, policymakers, educators, and civil society members joined the forum to address the economic challenges women face and offer policy-oriented solutions.
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt stated that this is not just a forum for dialogue, but a platform for actionable change. I am proud that Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz committed to empowering the females at every level.
Salma Butt, Special Assistant to CM Punjab, encouraged women to take a competitive approach in the marketplace, emphasizing that real business success comes not just from vision, but from skill and perseverance.
Dr. Uzma Quraishi, Vice Chancellor LCWU, emphasized that educated women are fully capable of balancing family and leadership roles.
Irum Anjum, Vice Chancellor Kinnaird College, highlighted leadership, confidence, and consistency as keys to women’s success.
Ahmad Khan underlined the power of media in today’s business world, stating that
“If your business is not online, it doesn’t exist in the market.” Shahid Rehmat called on the government to remove taxes on digital marketing for micro-entrepreneurs and ease the cash flow cycle.
Sabiha Shaheen urged the government to adopt the MDMB model in its economic empowerment policies, which includes grassroots mobilization, skills development, access to resources, and capacity-building. Saem Ali Dada stressed that sustainable development is not possible without women’s economic participation and called for effective female representation in policymaking.
The forum featured the launch of a booklet titled “My Dream, My Business”, showcasing the stories of 19 resilient women from Lahore and Gujranwala who overcame marginalization to start small businesses.
A powerful theater performance by Bargad’s team illustrated the socio-economic struggles of women and their journey to empowerment, touching the audience emotionally.
An exhibition of women-led products and services was also held, providing a platform for visibility, networking, and market access while two panel discussions explored “Advancing Women’s Economic Inclusion” and
“From Dialogue to Policy”
These brought forward insights, lived experiences, and policy recommendations from the community to policymakers. All speakers and participants agreed that women’s economic development is not merely a welfare concern but a national development priority. The joint effort by Bargad and LCWU was widely appreciated as a model initiative for empowering women through skill-building, policy engagement, and market access.
