Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) Group has entered into a strategic partnership with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) to provide digital and economic empowerment to women entrepreneurs through training and access to digital and financial tools and economic growth opportunities.
Adnan Anjum, Group Chief Commercial Officer (GCCO) of PTCL Group, and Nadir Gul Baruch, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of PPAF, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations, signed an agreement at Ufone Tower in Islamabad. This public-private partnership project will empower and train women entrepreneurs to lead their businesses to sustainable growth and resilience.
The year-long pilot will be conducted in four union councils and 10 villages in Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and will train 100 women entrepreneurs. Partner institutions will deliver two-week training modules using a standardized, high-impact curriculum that focuses on digital literacy, business skills, and life skills. PTCL allocates a physical space to act as a central location for training sessions as a digitally enabled hub with access to basic amenities such as the internet and training rooms.
In addition, Ufone will provide its SIM card and data package pre-registered in the smartphone for a one-year project, allowing the smartphone to fully participate. PPAF will leverage its existing community-level presence through partner organizations already involved in various development initiatives to lead the identification and selection process for women entrepreneurs. PPAF also contributes to the total cost of the project on an equity basis.
