President and Group CEO of PTCL and Ufone 4G, Hatem Bamatraf, recently visited the 'Ba-Ikhtiar' program stall at the GITEX 2024 Startup Connector event, 'Expand North Star', held in Dubai. This event featured enterprises from two top-performing entrepreneurs under the Group's women empowerment initiative.
PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G), Pakistan's leading telecommunications and ICT provider, showcased its transformative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Ba-Ikhtiar, at Expand North Star. This is the world's largest startup and investor connector event, part of GITEX 2024 in Dubai. The event served as a global platform to highlight the success of Ba-Ikhtiar participants and promote the initiative worldwide.
Two remarkable women entrepreneurs from Ba-Ikhtiar, Farhat ul Ain and Marrium Hussain, represented the program at the event. These individuals, who started as local embroidery artists in the suburbs of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province, have evolved into tech-enabled entrepreneurs thanks to the training and support provided by the Ba-Ikhtiar program. PTCL & Ufone 4G selected them to gain valuable exposure and explore new business opportunities at one of the most significant business and tech platforms globally.
Marrium and Farhat displayed their products at the Pakistan Enclosure, engaging with international visitors, sharing their inspiring journey, and receiving recognition for their incredible transformations. Marrium Hussain expressed, 'I am profoundly thankful to PTCL Group for this opportunity. Being part of such a significant global platform has been life-changing, and we anticipate new growth avenues for our enterprises. We met diverse people, gained exposure, and received appreciation for our work, encouraging us to aim higher.'
Ba-Ikhtiar is a women empowerment initiative launched by PTCL Group in partnership with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). It aims to equip small-scale female entrepreneurs with essential digital tools and skills to grow their businesses. Participants receive smartphones with pre-loaded SIM cards from PTCL Group, along with hands-on training in digital skills, including using UPaisa mobile wallets and managing seller accounts on the e-commerce platform Daraz. The 15-day workshop enhances their artisan skills and teaches digital marketing techniques to help them expand their market globally.
The program also includes financial management training from U Microfinance Bank, empowering participants to manage their business finances efficiently. PTCL & Ufone 4G provided them with handsets and mobile connectivity to cover their data and voice needs. So far, two batches of women entrepreneurs have graduated from the Ba-Ikhtiar Program, now using their smartphones and free data to sell products through Daraz, receive payments via UPaisa, and dispatch orders through courier services. Their success stories inspire other women to pursue digital entrepreneurship to transform their socio-economic conditions.
Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO of PTCL & Ufone 4G, shared, 'The Ba-Ikhtiar program reflects our dedication to fostering digital inclusion and leveraging our digital resources to empower underserved social segments. This initiative enables women to become financially independent and facilitates their participation in Pakistan's growing digital economy. It establishes a strong foundation for a sustainable future by ensuring women play an active role in the country's socio-economic progress. I am immensely proud of these young entrepreneurs, who have demonstrated resilience and commitment to becoming future business leaders.'
The PTCL Group exhibit was a focal point of the Pakistan enclosure at Expand North Star, attracting significant attention. Marrium and Farhat's story of evolving from local artisans to digital entrepreneurs through digital and financial technology received widespread commendation.
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