"Remarks by Senator Bushra Anjum At the Side-Event on “Empowerment of Women in Pakistan: The Role of Education and Microfinance in Advancing Justice and Equality” Organized by Permanent Mission of Pakistan and Muslim American Leadership Alliance (13 March 2026) ******** Thank you, Madam Moderator. Distinguished panelists, ladies and gentlemen, It is a privilege to participate in this important discussion on women’s empowerment through education and microfinance—two powerful instruments that, when combined, can transform not only individual lives but the trajectory of entire societies. 2. In Pakistan, women’s empowerment through education is both a constitutional commitment and a national development priority. Our Constitution recognizes the right to education as a fundamental right under Article 25-A, which guarantees free and compulsory education for every child. This constitutional provision reflects our belief that education is not a privilege reserved for a few, but a right that must reach every child—especially girls, who have historically faced barriers to access. 3. As Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, I see first-hand the policy efforts aimed at translating this constitutional promise into real opportunities for women and girls across Pakistan. 4. Over the past decade, Pakistan has made steady progress in expanding access to education, particularly for girls. Governments at both federal and provincial levels have invested in building schools in rural and underserved areas, expanding scholarship programs for female students, and improving school infrastructure to ensure safe and inclusive learning environments. Initiatives such as Wasila-e-Taleem under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) have supported girls’ education through conditional cash transfers that incentivize families to keep their daughters in school. 5. However, education must go beyond access—it must also create pathways to economic participation. A young woman who graduates but lacks market-relevant skills or financial access cannot fully benefit from her education. For this reason, Pakistan is increasingly strengthening the link between education, skills development, and employment opportunities. Institutions such as the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) are working to integrate technical, vocational, and digital skills into secondary and higher education. These programs equip young women with competencies that align with emerging sectors of the economy—such as information technology, digital services, creative industries, and advanced technical trades. 6. Universities are also evolving into hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship. Across Pakistan, higher education institutions are establishing incubation centers and innovation labs that encourage students—particularly female students—to translate ideas into businesses. In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of building a knowledge-driven economy, these incubation centers provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and technical guidance to help young women transform academic knowledge into entrepreneurial success. 7. Yet education alone cannot unlock economic empowerment unless women also have access to financial resources. For millions of women in developing countries, microfinance represents the first step toward financial independence and economic agency. 8. Pakistan has developed a growing microfinance ecosystem that enables women to access small loans, savings mechanisms, and digital financial services. Programs such as the Kamyab Jawan initiative, and various microfinance banking networks have expanded access to credit for women entrepreneurs across Pakistan. Through microfinance, women are able to establish small enterprises in sectors ranging from agriculture and handicrafts to retail and digital services. Many women-led microenterprises have grown into sustainable livelihoods that not only support households but also generate employment within communities. These experiences demonstrate a critical lesson: when education is paired with access to finance, empowerment becomes sustainable and transformative. 9. At the same time, we must acknowledge that progress in girls’ education sometimes faces serious challenges. Pakistan has endured the painful consequences of externally funded and sponsored terrorism from our neighbourhood, particularly in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where terrorist organizations such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have targeted schools, teachers, and educational infrastructure. These groups have also attempted to exploit vulnerability by recruiting young people—including young women—into their extremist networks, seeking to undermine the very foundations of education, empowerment, and social progress. 10. These attacks are not merely assaults on buildings—they are attacks on the hopes and aspirations of young girls whose futures depend on education. By intimidating communities and disrupting schooling, these terrorist organizations seek to deprive girls of opportunities and to weaken the social fabric of our society. Yet despite these grave challenges, Pakistan has remained resolute. The Government has undertaken extensive efforts to rebuild damaged schools, strengthen the security of educational institutions, and ensure that children—especially girls—can safely return to classrooms. At the same time, national and provincial initiatives are addressing the risks including through community engagement, awareness programmes, and expanded educational opportunities for young women. Ladies and gentlemen, 11. If we are to ensure that education truly translates into economic empowerment for women and girls, several policy priorities must guide our efforts. First, we must continue investing in girls’ education, particularly in marginalized and rural areas where access gaps remain. Second, education systems must align learning with the future of work by expanding digital literacy, technical training, and entrepreneurial skills. Third, governments and financial institutions must strengthen financial inclusion for women, ensuring that microfinance, credit, and digital financial services are accessible to female entrepreneurs. Fourth, universities and educational institutions must serve as bridges between knowledge and economic opportunity, through incubation centers, mentorship programs, and industry partnerships. Finally, parliaments and policymakers must maintain strong oversight and sustained political commitment so that gender-sensitive policies are implemented effectively and consistently. 12. Throughout history, societies that invested in the education and economic empowerment of women have experienced profound social and economic transformation. When a girl enters a classroom, she carries not only a book but the promise of a brighter future. When a woman gains the financial means to shape her own destiny, she strengthens families, communities, and nations. Empowering women through education and microfinance is therefore not merely a policy objective—it is a pathway toward justice, equality, and sustainable development. I thank you."