Thursday, January 22, 2026
Home Blog Page 2842

Women & Tech Startups – Barriers & Opportunity

By
admin
-

Adnan Mughal

Women around the world are increasingly using technology and adapting it to their needs. Ecommerce can particularly help entrepreneurs, especially women in developing nations’ to overcome the usual market access and network challenges as internet-based enterprises can be operated at a very small scale. Moreover, e-commerce also reduces the cost associated with geographic distances, which implies potential gains for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) (including women owned/led enterprises) as they can go global more easily. With digital technology, women have been able to expand economic activity and increase outreach at a minimal cost. However, gender disparity in Pakistan has a significantly low ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index 2020, only ahead of Iraq and Yemen – with limited economic opportunities for women. Despite improvement over time, only half of the female population is literate, compared with 72.5 percent of male population. Female labour force participation stands at only 20.1 percent. Only 1 percent of women are engaged in entrepreneurial activities as opposed to 21 percent of men. Majority of women entrepreneurs are operating in the informal (MSMEs) space, and the concentration of women led businesses is confined to traditional female sectors such as textiles, beauty, food, agriculture and vocational training.

In the tech startup space, women entrepreneurs continue to face discrimination in opportunities and benefits offered by ICTs due to lack of access, resources, skills, and education. A key barrier for women entrepreneurs in the tech space is under-representation in tech knowledge and education. Currently, gender disparity is worst for women in digital/STEM careers in Pakistan. Only 16 percent of female computer science graduates are working versus 83 percent men. However, the rise of women-led startups in the last few years in the tech-space is a silver lining. Technology is enabling women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. With the rising variety of women-led small and medium enterprises seen operating online, many women-led startups are creating opportunities by using digital technology. These startups are mostly focusing on areas like e-commerce and retail – particularly clothing, fashion, accessories, food and catering, salon services, event management, health, and education services. While there is no social data to show the number of women-led startups, the startup.pk directory shows that 20 percent of the startups are founded or co-founded by women. Also, the rising engagement of the stakeholders is an indication of growth. Competitions, awards, donor-led challenges, investment by multiple national and international corporations are examples of these interventions bearing fruit. Also, the share of women tech startups in raising investment is improving, albeit slowly. Most women-led startups that have attracted investment belong to the e-commerce sector, health and health-tech, and education and ed-tech. There is also a rise in international as well as private sector initiatives to support women entrepreneurs especially in the tech space.

SheLovesTech (2019) a global platform for international tech companies, investors, entrepreneurs, startups, and consumers to promote technology for women and by women. It recently held a competition in Pakistan and provided winning business grants, and an opportunity to compete in a global challenge. SheLovesTech has till date disseminated 350+ hours of training and more than 100 hours of mentorship.

#SheMeansBusiness Programme (2019) launched by Facebook in partnership with Lahore Women’s Chamber of Commerce is to provide women entrepreneurs with tools, resources, training, and guidance to run a successful online business. WeCreate Center: It is a community center in Islamabad for women interested in entrepreneurial ventures. The center provides mentoring, training, a networking platform, access to media, markets, and capital along with the technological tools and resources needed for developing businesses.

Women in TechPk: Women community offering a platform to discuss professional and career-related issues, seek advice, find mentors and forge organizational alliances and individual collaborations. WE-NET: Pakistan Women Entrepreneurs Network for Trade (WE-NET) is a representative platform for women entrepreneurs in trade of goods and services being established with the support of World Bank Group Pakistan.

Karandaaz Women Ventures: Previously known as the Women Entrepreneurship Challenge – a flagship annual initiative of Karandaaz, provides growth capital and business development support to women led businesses to demonstrate their commercial viability for investment and making their portfolio bankable.

Financial Inclusion of Women Challenge (FIWC) & Digital Financial Solutions: Through this focused challenge, Karandaaz seeks to support solutions to address the critical issue of women missing out on opportunities otherwise possible through their financial inclusion such as having agency over money, savings, and access to credit. The program aimed at increasing use of tech by women to increase their economic participation.

The proportion of women having digital skills compared to men is perceived to be quite low in Pakistan, which prevents them from adopting technology in digital entrepreneurship. Presence of women in specialized areas that precondition higher level education will grow with increase in female graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Developing the passion and introducing and exposing young women to STEM subjects and opportunities at an early stage and university level will help address some underrepresentation. Co-operation between IT universities and business enterprises, digital skills apprenticeships for women and mentorship, financial support, and other technical/non-technical support can potentially clear the path toward digital entrepreneurship for women. Women also have less access to other digital learning platforms. Facilitation in the form of dedicated programs can increase the uptake of technology, which can indirectly boost their responsiveness to entrepreneurial opportunities. For example, digital divide has been badly exposed during coronavirus, impacting females harder because of their limited access to the internet and smart devices. In addition, new opportunities like digital health and remote learning/education have cropped up amid the pandemic, where women can monetize their skills better if they are better connected to digital technology. Government-focused programmers and schemes dedicated for women-led tech startups can also be an impetus in shifting women led businesses from conventional sectors into more technology related sectors. Tech startups and technology- enabled entrepreneurship both rely on digital tools like a website, smartphone app, telecom, online platforms or complicated management systems like ERP, supply chain management, payroll, funding etc. Equal access to these facilities through workshops and training for the adoption of digital tools will give a push to digitally enabled entrepreneurship. Finally, the wider ecosystem support, including Karandaaz, will need to strengthen and increase the financial and technical support instruments available as well as promote women role models, women IT experts and IT leaders to encourage aspiring female entrepreneurs.

The writer is a student at QAU.

Haier installs 2,184 cold chain devices for polio vaccine in Pakistan

By
admin
-

BEIJING, Dec. 10 : Haier installed 2,184 cold chain devices for polio vaccine in Pakistan, Gwadar Pro reported on Thursday.

A service team of Haier Pakistan trained health workers on how to manage the ‘cold chain’ to keep vaccines safe during transportation and storage.

Moreover, Haier Pakistan donated protective equipment and living supplies to the locals, including 50,000 face masks and 25,000 food bags with flour, rice, sugar and other necessities to the residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It is reported that the service tesm installed 2,184 devices nationwide, which benefited about 3 million local children.

In support of this campaign, the team recently provided relevant institutions in Pakistan with medical refrigerators for the safe storage of polio vaccine.

Earlier this year, it also provided on-site air conditioning maintenance services for Muzaffargarh Hospital, a designated hospital for COVID-19 patients.

Pakistan is one of the two polio-endemic countries in the world along with its neighbour Afghanistan.

According to Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative, a total of 82 polio cases have been reported in 2020 including 24 from Balochistan, 22 each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, and 14 from Punjab.

And the country has commenced a national immunization drive from November 30 to vaccinate over 39 million children under the age of five.

Poliomyelitis, a crippling viral disease, has been affecting many children in Pakistan despite the numerous efforts that have been taken to curb its spread.

The COVID-19 pandemic has halted mass polio vaccination campaigns globally including Pakistan, resulting in a resurgence of new cases.

According to Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative, a total of 82 polio cases have been reported in 2020 including 24 from Balochistan, 22 each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, and 14 from Punjab. And the country has commenced a national immunization drive from November 30 to vaccinate over 39 million children under the age of five.

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization issued an urgent call to action in November to avert major measles and polio epidemics as COVID-19 continues to disrupt immunization services worldwide, leaving millions of vulnerable children at heightened risk of preventable childhood diseases.

According to the official website of UNICEF, they have invested in vaccine supply chain infrastructure such as freezer rooms, refrigerators, cold boxes, vaccine carriers and temperature monitoring devices.

Pak-China TCM training project kicks off in Qingdao

By
admin
-

BEIJING, Dec. 10 :  The opening ceremony of the International Training Program “China Pakistan Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Technical Training Course 2020” kicked off in the Digital Classroom of Qingdao Binhai University, Gwadar Pro reported on Thursday.

The TCM Training project is one of the 49 national projects approved by the Ministry of Education and the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges. It is also the first overseas TCM Technical Training course conducted by Qingdao Binhai University.

According to the report, at the opening ceremony, Vice President of Qingdao Binhai University, Liu Lianxin pointed out that as one of China’s national quintessence, TCM has rooted in China’s traditional culture for thousands of years, it is a profound and sophisticated science.

The school invited experts in the field to make sure that the content of this training course is rich and diverse.

He further expressed that Pakistani students are welcomed to study in Qingdao Binhai University for the degree of TCM.

“Pakistan has been a consistent friend to China. Earlier this year, when China was fighting against the epidemic, Pakistan, as China’s “iron Brother”, overcame its own difficulties, mobilized all sectors and actively sent PPE’s to China, which the Chinese people will never forget”, he added.

Vice President of Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons & Ex-Principal of SIMS, Prof. Ayaz Mahmoud expressed his gratitude to Qingdao Binhai University for the careful organization of this training event, emphasized that both China and Pakistan have ancient civilizations and profound histories, as well as splendid and rich cultural traditions.

This training event offered a great opportunity for Pakistani teachers and students, especially young students, to learn about Chinese and Pakistani culture and TCM.

The 14-day training course on TCM techniques will be hold online. It aims to explain the basic theories and advanced practical knowledge of TCM to Pakistani teachers and students, with a theory plus practical training method.

The content involves meridian and acupuncture General monographs, as well as various massage techniques, Tuna, moxibustion techniques, and compression techniques.

Chinese traders feel Pakistan as their home: Zukai

By
admin
-

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 10 : “Pakistan is the top priority of Chinese traders. We never feel like we are in another country; instead, we feel it as our home,” said Zukai, chief executive of Chinese company Kai Jing and Mawin Jun, Gwadar Pro reported on Thursday.

Pakistani businessmen and institutions also provide full support to Chinese businessmen,
he expressed these views during meeting here with Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Mian Anjum Nisar.

“In order to protect the people of the two countries from the Corona pandemic, our company in collaboration with Pakistani companies has created a modern kit for quick and accurate diagnosis of Corona which gives 95% result in 55 minutes,” he said.

“With it, we will also test within Chinese and Pakistani partner companies operating in Pakistan,” he added.

PFCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar mentioned, “the special interest, diligence, and love from the Chinese government, investors, and businessmen that strengthen Pakistan’s economy will never be forgotten by the businessmen and people of Pakistan.”

“We are happy that the same love is felt by the Chinese people and businessmen for Pakistan as the love, people and businessmen of Pakistan have for China,” he added.

He also appreciated the initiative of COVID-19’s advanced testing kit. He said that the businessmen of both countries were playing a vital role in strengthening trade and diplomatic relations.

FPCCI would continue, he said, to play its role in the special interest of Chinese investors in Pakistan, strengthening relations and friendship with Pakistani businessmen and increasing trade volume between the two countries.

He said that the great project of CPEC would not only change the destiny of Pakistan but would also make China and Pakistan economic tigers in the world.

COVID-19 claims 56 more lives in Pakistan

By
admin
-

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan has recorded 56 deaths and 3,138 new cases due to the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

In the past 24 hours, 56 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,603. 2,030 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,575 patients are in critical condition including 77 more declared critical.

The total count of active cases is 46,376 and the positivity rate was recorded up to 7.8 per cent.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 429,280.

A total of 40,202 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 374,301 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 5,906,146 samples have been tested thus far.

Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases and fatalities, Prime Minister Imran Khan convened a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) today to review the coronavirus situation in the country.

The premier will be briefed by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on the coronavirus situation.

Important decisions, including imposing smart lockdowns would be taken.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar had warned of imposing tougher restrictions if violations of coronavirus standard operating procedure (SOPs) continues amid the second Covid-19 wave.

Speaking to the media after a meeting of the NCOC, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar warned Covid-19 cases will go up if health guidelines are not adhered to, piling pressure on hospitals.

E-PAPER DEC 10

By
admin
-

CLICK FOR E-PAPER DEC 10

UK warns people with serious allergies to avoid Pfizer vaccine

By
admin
-

LONDON, DEC 9 – British regulators warned on Wednesday that people who have a history of serious allergic reactions shouldn’t receive the new Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as they investigate two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of the country’s mass vaccination programme.

The UK’s Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is looking into whether the reactions were linked to the vaccine.

The two people affected were staff members with the National Health Service who had a history of allergies, and both are recovering. Authorities have not specified what their reactions were.

In the meantime, the regulator has issued the warning for anyone who has had a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food. That includes anyone who has been told to carry an adrenaline shot or others who have had potentially fatal allergic reactions.

“As is common with new vaccines the MHRA have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday,” Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for the NHS in England, said in a statement. Both are recovering well.

The medical regulatory agency also said vaccinations should not be carried out in facilities that don’t have resuscitation equipment.

Pfizer and BioNTech said they were working with investigators to “better understand each case and its causes”.

Late-stage trials of the vaccine found no serious safety concerns, the companies said. More than 42,000 people have received two doses of the shot during those trials.

“In the pivotal phase three clinical trial, this vaccine was generally well tolerated with no serious safety concerns reported by the independent Data Monitoring Committee,” the companies said.

Documents published by the two companies showed that people with a history of severe allergic reactions were excluded from the trials, and doctors were advised to look out for such reactions in trial participants who weren’t previously known to have severe allergies.

Even in non-emergency situations, health authorities must closely monitor new vaccines and medications because studies in tens of thousands of people cant detect a rare risk that would affect 1 in 1 million.

Dr Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said there is a very small chance of an allergic reaction to any vaccine.

The MHRA last week gave emergency authorisation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making Britain the first country to allow its widespread use.

The UK began its mass vaccination programme on Tuesday, offering the shot to people over 80, nursing home staff and some NHS workers. It’s not clear how many people have received the jab so far.

As part of its emergency authorisation for the vaccine, the MHRA required healthcare workers to report any adverse reactions to help regulators gather more information about safety and effectiveness.

The agency is monitoring the vaccine roll-out closely and will now investigate these cases in more detail to understand if the allergic reactions were linked to the vaccine or were incidental, he said.

The fact that we know so soon about these two allergic reactions and that the regulator has acted on this to issue precautionary advice shows that this monitoring system is working well.

Dr June Raine, head of the medical regulatory agency, informed a Parliamentary committee about the reactions during previously scheduled testimony on the pandemic.

“We know from the very extensive clinical trials that this wasn’t a feature of the vaccine,” she said.

“But if we need to strengthen our advice, now that we have had this experience in the vulnerable populations, the groups who have been selected as a priority, we get that advice to the field immediately.”

Greece’s envoy, interior minister discuss bilateral ties

By
admin
-

A.M.Bhatti

ISLAMABAD, DEC 9 – Ambassador of Greece Andreas Papastavrou Wednesday called on Minister for Interior Brig (R) Ijaz Ahmad Shah and discussed bilateral ties, economic situation and impact of pandemic on the global level.

Pakistan and Greece shared good relations at government level, the ambassador said adding, “We have plenty of Pakistanis living in Greece and who play an important role in strengthening ties between the two countries, said a press release.

Discussing the issue of illegal immigrants, Brig Ijaz said all the needful measures were being taken to eliminate this problem.

He referred to a recent incident where the interior ministry processed the Greek request for the chartered flight carrying illegal immigrants on a very short notice. “This in time and active response was to ensure that our friendly and cooperative relationship should continue in future,” he said.

The ambassador welcomed the positive response from Pakistan and the interior ministry.

About COVID-19, the federal minister said this pandemic had taken a toll on the world economy. To which Greek ambassador said their country heavily relied on tourism and the economy had suffered due to the outbreak of this deadly virus. The duo hoped for better things to happen in near future and wished that people can have virus free lives again.

The ambassador invited the federal minister to Greece. The minister warmly welcomed the invitation and hoped to visit once the pandemic situation gets better.

The meeting concluded pledging the two countries would continue to work on strengthening bilateral ties and mutual cooperation.

Saudi envoy calls on FM Qureshi to discuss bilateral ties

By
admin
-

ISLAMABAD, DEC 09 (DNA) – Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Maliki has called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad today. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and enhancement of cooperation.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have tremendous opportunities of promotion of bilateral cooperation in various fields, and they need to be exploited.

He said the two countries have deep historical relations. He said a large number of Pakistanis have been residing in Saudi Arabia for several decades and playing their role in progress and development of Saudi Arabia.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed gratitude to the Saudi Foreign Minister and Saudi government for supporting Pakistan s resolution on Kashmir at the OIC Foreign Ministers Council meeting.

He said the OIC s reiteration of its principled stance regarding Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir in Niamey Declaration is commendable. The Foreign Minister said Pakistan supports the efforts for peaceful resolution of issues in the Gulf region.  = DNA

 =========================== 

Norwegian FM believes in more collaboration with Biden, especially on climate

By
admin
-

OSLO, DEC 2020 – Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) sees opportunities for more cooperation with the United States when Joe Biden takes over as president.

“Although we can expect a large degree of continuity in many issues of importance to us, the change of president in some areas may allow for increased cooperation with the United States, for example, related to global climate issues and global health,” Eriksen Søreide said in the Norwegian parliament (Storting) on Tuesday.

In her address, Søreide presented the government’s priorities for 2021 for the UN Security Council.

According to the Foreign Minister, the corona pandemic, economic challenges, and political polarization mean that Biden will probably have to spend a lot of time on domestic policy in the future.

“But we see the signals that the incoming president has given, among other things regarding the Paris Agreement, which can open up opportunities for more cooperation,” she told NTB.

Pressure from the great powers

In her statement, Eriksen Søreide also highlighted the rivalry between the great powers and how China has filled the void left by the United States that has withdrawn from the world stage under President Donald Trump.

The Socialist Left Party’s (SV) leader Audun Lysbakken wanted answers to how Norway will handle pressure from the American side and whether Norway will dare to think differently than the United States in the UN Security Council.

Eriksen Søreide assured him that Norway would dare to have dissenting opinions.

She referred to the nuclear agreement with Iran, trade policy, and climate policy as issues where Norway already was in clear disagreement with the White House.

“We have a very close and good cooperation with the United States as our closest ally, but we also voice clear disagreement when we disagree politically,” she noted, labeling SV’s criticism as outdated.

Climate and security

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also talked about how Norway will try to get the climate issue on the Security Council’s agenda.

“Climate and conflict are connected, and climate change often exacerbates underlying conflicts,” Eriksen Søreide said.

Eriksen Søreide also pointed out that not all members of the Council recognize that there is a connection between climate and security.

Therefore, Norway will also work to promote greater acceptance of the connection, in collaboration with Norwegian NUPI, Swedish SIPRI, and German professional communities.

“Through this (effort), we will also contribute to building up competence and expertise in this area in the Nordic region,” she added.

The effort will contribute to greater acceptance of the threat posed by the climate issue to international peace and security, and get it recognized in the Security Council’s work, she elaborated.

Norway has been elected as a member of the Security Council for the period 2021–2022.

1...2,8412,8422,843...3,825Page 2,842 of 3,825

Stay Connected

64FansLike
60FollowersFollow

Latest Reviews

Exchange Rates

USD - United States Dollar
EUR
1.17
GBP
1.35
AUD
0.67
CAD
0.72

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© Centreline Magazine