Women Entrepreneurs Showcase Their Businesses at Three-Day Exhibition in Islamabad

Islamabad, October 2026: Shirakat Foundation, in collaboration with British Asian Trust, Fondazione Pangea, European Union and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), organized a three-day exhibition from 23 to 25 October 2026 at Lok Virsa, Islamabad, providing women entrepreneurs with an opportunity to showcase their products, promote their businesses, establish new connections, and explore potential markets.
The exhibition brought together more than 75 stalls featuring women-led businesses from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Lahore. Women Micro-Entrepreneurs (WMEs) participating in the exhibition displayed a diverse range of products, reflecting their skills, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial potential.
The stalls featured a wide variety of products, including jewellery, clothing, crochet products, makeup and beauty products, food items, refreshments, frozen foods, embroidery, honey, and other handmade and locally produced goods. Visitors had the opportunity to explore these products, interact directly with women entrepreneurs, and learn more about their businesses.

The primary objective of the exhibition was to create a platform for women entrepreneurs to promote their businesses, expand their customer base, establish new business contacts, and strengthen their professional networks. By bringing women entrepreneurs from different cities together under one roof, the exhibition encouraged networking, peer learning, and the exchange of business ideas and experiences.
The event also aimed to improve women entrepreneurs’ access to markets, customers, and potential business partners. Participation in such exhibitions provides women with greater visibility for their products, opportunities to understand customer preferences, receive feedback, and identify new avenues for business growth and expansion.
For many participating women, the exhibition offered an opportunity to introduce their products to a wider audience beyond their usual local markets. Engaging with customers and fellow entrepreneurs also provided valuable opportunities to build confidence in product presentation, marketing, and business communication while developing relationships that can contribute to the long-term growth and sustainability of their enterprises.
Participating women entrepreneurs expressed appreciation for the opportunity to showcase their products and connect with customers from different backgrounds. They shared that the exhibition provided valuable exposure for their businesses, helped them interact with potential customers, and created opportunities to establish new business contacts. Participants also highlighted the importance of such platforms in increasing the visibility of women-led businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and supporting women in expanding their market reach. They appreciated Shirakat Foundation and its partners for creating opportunities that recognize women’s skills, promote their businesses, and support their economic empowerment.
The exhibition highlighted the important role women entrepreneurs play in supporting household incomes, strengthening local economies, and contributing to community development. It demonstrated how access to markets, business networks, and supportive opportunities can help women develop their entrepreneurial skills, strengthen their enterprises, and pursue greater economic independence.
Through this collaborative initiative, Shirakat Foundation and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to promoting women’s economic empowerment, strengthening women-led enterprises, and creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs to connect, grow, and succeed.
The three-day exhibition at Lok Virsa served as a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their talent, celebrate their achievements, promote their products, and take meaningful steps towards expanding their businesses and reaching new markets.