It is estimated that up to 40% of Pakistan's population – some 87 million people – could end up living below the poverty line as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as devastating lives and livelihoods, the pandemic is exacerbating existing inequalities, with women among those worst affected.
In partnership with The British Asian Trust, Kaarvan is collaborating with the Target Foundation in tackling this crisis by catalysing the growth of women-led enterprises in low-income urban areas in Pakistan.
In order for women workers and Women-owned Businesses, to have improved access to vocational training centers, 38 women entrepreneurs from community WOBs are being introduced to public and private sector Training Institutes through formal linkages sessions in TVET institute, Qasimpur, Multan.
Around 38 women entrepreneurs from community WOBs have NTNs will be registered with the Federal Bureau of Revenue to become active taxpayers. Mentoring sessions were conducted at the regional office in Multan, where the importance of National Tax Number was discussed and the entrepreneurs were facilitated in creating their NTNs.
Women Entrepreneurs in the semi-urban and rural areas of Faisalabad and Sialkot are connected to banks and MFIs for small loans to grow their businesses and thus create new jobs for the women workforce in their areas.
The project aims to reduce the stigma relating to women’s participation in the workforce through skills upgradation, industry engagement and mentorship of 2100 women entrepreneurs and their supply chain members, while also creating 300 new jobs over a period of 3 years.
Earlier, in honour of the International Day Of The Girl Child, Kaarvan's volunteer Zainab had prepared a special poem to highlight the brave and resilient girls of Pakistan.
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