The Ba-Ikhtiar Women Project, a joint initiative of the PTCL Group and PPAF continues to strengthen women’s digital and economic empowerment across Pakistan. The most recent milestone came at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai, where PPAF and PTCL formalised their partnership through an MoU signing. Led by Mr. Hatem Bamatraf, President & Group CEO PTCL & Ufone 4G, and Mr. Nadir Gul Barech, CEO PPAF, the signing highlighted the growing momentum behind the Ba-Ikhtiar initiative and underscored the transformative potential of cross-sector collaboration. Building on this development, PPAF emphasised its dedication to integrating social development with digital innovation to help women advance toward long-term economic self-reliance.

The initiative first took shape in its pilot phase in Haripur District, where 100 women entrepreneurs were equipped with digital literacy, financial skills, and practical tools to strengthen their micro-enterprises. Participants received training in embroidery, tailoring, online marketing, and e-commerce, and were supported with smartphones and data packages to enhance digital access.

Encouraged by the pilot’s success, Phase II of Ba-Ikhtiar is expanding to 22 districts, reaching 2,100 skilled and semi-skilled women. This scale-up aligns with PPAF’s strategy which prioritises women’s inclusion in the digital economy and promotes technology-led pathways for sustainable livelihoods.

Through Ba-Ikhtiar, PPAF and PTCL aim to empower marginalised women with the skills, connectivity, and confidence needed to participate fully in Pakistan’s evolving digital landscape.

Media Coverage Report