February 2026, PODA’s webinar series #194 was led by Pakistan’s renowned marketing expert Ms. Touqeer Fatima from Lahore. She highlighted that it is the responsibility of all society to provide training and opportunities for women with disabilities so they can learn skills and earn income to become economically independent. The participants shared the various barriers they face in accessing resources, skills, and market opportunities as women and how it is more difficult in small towns and villages. Speakers emphasized the need for capacity-building initiatives to empower women, particularly those from rural and marginalized communities.
One of the obstacle identified was the role of middle men who buy women’s handicrafts and handmade products in a cheap price and sell it to city based shops at a higher rate but do not share the profit with the women workers. Ms. Touqeer Fatima sshared how many women are increasingly taking their own initiatives to overcome these challenges by working independently and have started to manage their businesses in new ways such as selling handmade products directly through on-line social media platforms or local markets, allowing them to earn better income without relying on middle men intermediaries. The key recommendaiton of the webinar was that the govenment should set-up Women Business Center at Tehsil level in all regions of Pakistan and Pakistani public should prioritize buying from women artisans especailly women with disabilties to encourge and support small businesses. The webinar was attened by women from 15 district.