News Detail
Event Title: Misbah Khar addresses Second Asian Women's Forum in Uzbekistan
Event Date: 2026-05-14
Advisor to the Chairman Senate and Ambassador to the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), Misbah Khar, has emphasized that women’s economic empowerment is essential for sustainable employment generation, entrepreneurship, and balanced regional development.
Addressing the Second Asian Women's Forum being held in Bukhara , Uzbekistan, on inclusive economic growth, Ms. Misbah Khar stated that the global economy is facing challenges including economic uncertainty, climate vulnerabilities, technological disruption, and widening inequalities. She noted that economies excluding women from productive participation limit their own potential for growth, innovation, and resilience.
She observed that women’s economic empowerment is not merely a social objective but a strategic pillar of sustainable economic development. Highlighting Pakistan’s initiatives, she referred to women-focused programmes in skills development, vocational training, enterprise support, and financial inclusion, particularly in sectors such as information technology, agriculture, textile innovation, and home-based industries.
Ms. Misbah Khar highlighted the role of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in enhancing women’s financial autonomy through digital payment systems and access to formal banking. She also noted that the State Bank of Pakistan’s “Banking on Equality” framework has expanded women’s access to bank accounts, microfinance, and enterprise financing.
She emphasized that entrepreneurship is one of the strongest pathways for women’s economic advancement and stated that Pakistan is supporting women entrepreneurs through microfinance, digital banking, training programmes, and market connectivity initiatives, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Underscoring the importance of digital inclusion, she stated that Pakistan is expanding initiatives aimed at equipping women and young girls with digital tools and opportunities in e-commerce and online entrepreneurship while ensuring safe and inclusive digital spaces.
Ms. Misbah Khar further stressed that empowering women in rural and marginalized regions contributes directly to poverty reduction, local economic growth, and community resilience. She also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to integrate women into climate-related decision-making through initiatives such as the Climate Change Act and Climate Change Gender Action Plan.
Concluding her remarks, Ms. Misbah Khar reaffirmed that Pakistan remains committed to working with the international community to advance inclusive and sustainable economic frameworks that empower women and ensure equitable development for all segments of society.