LAHORE: Kashf Foundation, Pakistan’s microfinance institution, hosted its flagship Women Entrepreneurship Awards 2026 (WEA 2026) at the hotel, under the theme “Give to Gain”. The event marks 31 years of Kashf’s commitment to advancing financial inclusion for women and enterprise development and impact across the country.
Bringing together prominent industry leaders, development partners, policymakers, and media, WEA 2026 spotlighted the transformative journeys of women entrepreneurs who have leveraged access to finance, training, and support to build sustainable businesses and uplift their communities.
Speaking at the event, Roshaneh Zafar, Founder and Managing Director, Kashf Foundation, said:
“Kashf’s journey over the past three decades has consistently demonstrated that when women are given access to capital and opportunity, they don’t just transform their own lives, they create ripple effects across families, communities and local economies. WEA 2026 is about celebrating that multiplier effect as we step into a new decade of impact.”
The evening featured a keynote address by Sima Kamil, Former President & CEO of UBL and the first woman Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, who spoke on the importance of women leadership and financial inclusion.
Commenting on the significance of the event, Sima Kamil stated:
“Women’s economic participation is one of the most underleveraged drivers of growth in Pakistan. Platforms like WEA are critical because they move the conversation from potential to performance, showcasing real and measurable outcomes of financial inclusion.”
WEA 2026 also premiered two short documentaries featuring Kashf’s clients whose entrepreneurial journeys reflect courage, persistence, and business ambition. The screenings were followed by a live panel discussion featuring documentary filmmaker Anya Raza alongside Kashf clients Naima Baji, who built a successful home nursery business, and Sadia Baji, who has broken barriers as an electrician in a male-dominated profession.
The programme culminated in the presentation of awards across eight categories, including the Give to Gain Pioneer Award, Sustainability Champion Award, Heritage Craft Preservation Award, Community Catalyst Award, Emerging Change-Maker Award, Kashf School Sarmaya Award, Digital Innovator Award, and Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.
Kashf Foundation’s Women Entrepreneurship Awards are both a celebration and a strategic platform, the awards reinforce a powerful narrative: investing in women is not charity, it is a proven economic growth strategy. Each award category reflects a distinct dimension of this “Give to Gain” cycle, recognizing female entrepreneurs who are driving innovation, sustainability, employment generation, and social impact at scale.
As Kashf Foundation enters its third decade, the Women Entrepreneurship Awards continue to serve as both a celebration of impact and a forward-looking call to action, reinforcing the case for inclusive investment models that deliver returns far beyond the bottom line.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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