Entrepreneurship has always been a male-dominated segment, but many of today's most memorable and inspirational entrepreneurs are women. They are playing an active role in reviving our economy. Across Pakistan, women are starting various business ventures, developing innovative new products and services, winning patents, and creating new markets. They are the driving force behind the economic growth of our country and creating employment opportunities for the masses by training, educating and converting unskilled workforce into a skilled one. Recognizing the effective role women entrepreneurs can play in improving the economic conditions of Pakistan, Khushhalibank, the premier microfinance institution of the country, has joined hands with Dawood Global Foundation (DGF) to promote women entrepreneurship by sponsoring the second LADIESFUND Entrepreneurship Conference held on Friday at a local hotel in Karachi.

The LADIESFUND Entrepreneurship Conference 2011 (LEC 2011) witnessed a huge participation of women comprising of established and aspiring entrepreneurs. The conference gave the women entrepreneurs a great opportunity to listen to some of the leading entrepreneurs in Pakistan such as Mehrbano Sethi, a leading makeup stylist and owner of Luscious Cosmetics, Naheed Mashooqullah, one of the best known interior designers of Pakistan and Naila Naqvi, owner of one of the most popular cake shops in Karachi who all started out small but are now leaders in their respective fields. The conference aimed at bringing a revolution in the society by enhancing skills of entrepreneurship among women. The conference comprised of two sessions during which panel discussions, question answer sessions, presentations and other programmes were held. Commenting on the Partnership with Ladies Fund, Ghalib Nishtar, President Khushhalibank, stated “This conference is great platform to congratulate, appreciate and encourage women entrepreneurs to contribute more towards eradicating poverty and also to all those individuals who have consistently encouraged and contributed to the promotion of entrepreneurship in Pakistan. We are delighted to be part of such a conference”. Commenting on the association with Khushhalibank, Tara Dawood, President, Dawood Global Foundation said “We appreciate the support of Khushhalibank and are thankful to them for sponsoring the LADIESFUND Entrepreneurship Conference which is meant to encourage the Pakistani female entrepreneurs with valuable information and guidance. DGF and Khushhalibank share similar ideologies when it comes to empowering the Women of our country.”

Khushhalibank has always been associated with such initiatives which encourages and recognizes the potential of women entrepreneurs. The leading microfinance institution in the past has extended a helping hand to the women of Pakistan through various women empowerment initiatives. Khushhaibank introduced various socio-economic empowerment programs for women in the far fledged corners of the country in the last decade intended to support skill & development of micro enterprise amongst the women of remote areas.