PESHAWAR: Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar (SBBWUP) hosted a one-day seminar on the socioeconomic empowerment of Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan, jointly organised with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, Paigham-e-Pakistan, the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Centre of Excellence.
Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi graced the occasion as chief guest, while Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan attended as guest of honour.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Member Provincial Assembly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Aamna Sardar, Director General KPCVE Dr Muhammad Qasim Khan and PPAF Chief Executive Officer Nadir Gul Barech.
The seminar highlighted the importance of economic independence, skills development, entrepreneurship and access to opportunities for young women. It also underscored the role of women’s empowerment in promoting peace, tolerance, social cohesion and Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage.
Youth Excellence Awards were also distributed among young girls in recognition of their achievements and potential.
In her address, SBBWUP Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Aneela Anwar presented a vision for women’s empowerment, stressing the need to strengthen women’s higher education through sustained investment, institutional development, research, innovation and collaboration with national and international organisations.
She said the university’s role went beyond academic excellence and included student empowerment, leadership development and addressing social challenges.
Prof Dr Aneela Anwar emphasised the need to strengthen industry-academia linkages and provide students with industry exposure to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical workplaces.
She recommended establishing a Business Incubation Centre to promote startup businesses, develop entrepreneurial skills, turn innovative ideas into practical ventures and promote financial independence. She said such initiatives would enhance the role of women in socioeconomic development and enable them to contribute actively to the national economy.
The vice chancellor also emphasised transforming SBBWUP into an AI-enabled university by integrating artificial intelligence in teaching, research, administration and skill development.
She further stressed prioritising all essential development projects at SBBWUP to improve access to quality education and create a more supportive, inclusive and progressive learning environment for women.
Prof Dr Aneela Anwar called for stronger collaboration between the government, academia, industry and the private sector for the long-term growth of the university.
The event also featured a display of startups from SBBWUP and PPAF, where women entrepreneurs showcased their work, products and innovative business ideas.
The stalls provided young women with an opportunity to present their entrepreneurial ventures, gain exposure, interact with dignitaries and visitors, and receive encouragement and guidance for scaling up their businesses.
