LAHORE: The first-ever Women Entrepreneurial Punjab Expo (WEPX 2026) concluded this week in Lahore, bringing together over 600 women entrepreneurs under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Women First” vision.
Organized by the Women Development Department, the two-day event marked a major step in positioning women not as beneficiaries of social programs but as active drivers of economic growth.
Inaugurated by Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, the expo reflected the Punjab government’s commitment to integrating women into markets, enterprise, and investment.
“We want women to move beyond welfare and become strong pillars of the economy,” Aurangzeb said. “Sustainable development requires women’s full participation.”
Across the exhibition halls, women from diverse sectors, including textiles, fashion, handicrafts, food processing, agribusiness, digital services, and beauty, showcased their work. For many participants, WEPX offered rare visibility, recognition, and direct access to markets.
Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Ayesha Chaudhary, CEO of Art of Home, said the platform removed financial barriers that often prevent small entrepreneurs from participating.
“I have done multiple exhibitions where I end up paying a lot,” she said. “Here, the stalls are free, and I have received a very good response.”
Faiqa Mubashir, founder of HathKaari, noted the expo allowed her to bring rural women’s craftsmanship into the mainstream.
“I employ women from rural areas who have craft but no market access,” she said. “Here, we can present their work freely and securely, and people are appreciating it.”
Dr. Rumaisa, CEO of Unison Chemical Works / Rumaisa & Co., described the event as a platform for recognition. “This has given us our identity,” she said.
“Now the world is getting to know about us and that we are doing something.”
The expo also attracted participants from outside Punjab. Karachi-based designer Marium Tiki said she was the only brand from Karachi at the event and appreciated the opportunity to connect with a wider market.
“I started this business in 2008,” she said. “Today I own a small factory and now dream of opening a store in Punjab.”
Amna Mansoor, CEO of LOOPZS, shared how her business grew from an idea into a manufacturing unit within a year. “I started with my own investment, basically no money,” she said.
“Today I own a unit, and I am thankful for platforms like WEPX that support women.”
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, who visited the expo, praised the quality of products and business ideas, noting that women entrepreneurs are playing a crucial role in strengthening the provincial economy.
Parliamentary Secretary for Women Development Saadia Taimur said WEPX is a practical expression of the “Women First” vision, reflecting the department’s shift from awareness to access by providing women with markets, investment opportunities, and training.
Alongside the exhibition, WEPX featured business networking sessions, buyer-seller meetings, expert consultations, and guidance workshops to help women build connections and grow sustainably.
The expo aligns with broader initiatives under Punjab’s Annual Development Program 2025–26, including entrepreneurship promotion schemes, vocational training, digital reforms, and Women Business Incubation Centers, reinforcing the government’s long-term commitment to women’s economic empowerment.
As WEPX 2026 concluded, it left behind not only successful displays and networking opportunities but also a strong sense of confidence among participating women.
By placing women entrepreneurs at the center of the province’s development narrative, the expo marked a significant step toward a more inclusive and dynamic economy. One where women are not on the sidelines, but at the forefront of growth.
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