Balochistan women have no shortage of business talent, says Dr Rababa Khan Baledi at WEXNET 2026

QUETTA: Adviser to the Chief Minister Balochistan on Women Development Dr Rababa Khan Baledi has said that Balochistan’s women do not lack business ability or creative skills. She said they need to be given suitable platforms, financial support and access to national and international markets.

She said the Women Entrepreneurs Network Exhibition (WEXNET) is not merely an exhibition but a historic step towards introducing the women of Balochistan at the national level and taking their products to global markets.

She was speaking as chief guest at the opening ceremony of WEXNET 2026 at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) in Quetta.

The two-day exhibition has been organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Quetta, in collaboration with the Balochistan Board of Investment and Trade (BBoIT) and the Women Development Department. More than 100 women entrepreneurs from across Balochistan are taking part with their products and business skills.

Measures for women entrepreneurs

Dr Rababa Khan Baledi said the women of Balochistan had long been waiting for a national-level platform where they could present their abilities, products and business opportunities to the world. She said, “Today we have introduced Pakistan to Balochistan, and through WEXNET we have given a clear message that our goal is to give local products access to national platforms and global markets.”

She said WEXNET is the only national exhibition in Pakistan held specifically to bring forward women entrepreneurs and exporters.

She said that, in line with the vision of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the government’s priorities include women’s economic empowerment, their effective participation in business and strengthening their role in economic development. She said it is not enough to encourage women to start businesses. Practical steps such as product promotion, access to markets and provision of financial resources are needed to place businesses on a sustainable footing.

The Adviser on Women Development announced three major measures for the women taking part in the exhibition. She said 20 prominent women entrepreneurs at WEXNET Quetta would be supported to take part in national and international exhibitions, including those in Lahore and Islamabad.

The Women Development Department will provide training facilities to link all participating women with e-commerce platforms, including Daraz, and the proposed Baloch Women Super App. Under this, they will be taught skills in professional product photography, packaging and digital payments.

Interest-free loans of up to Rs1.5 million are also available through the Women Economic Endowment Fund for women entrepreneurs to expand and improve their businesses. These measures aim to take women’s businesses beyond the local level and link them with national and international markets.

Under the vision of the Chief Minister Balochistan, Women Tech Incubation Centres will be set up in the province’s seven divisions over the next three years. Training will be provided to equip 10,000 women for jobs in the digital sector. The centres will give women the chance to benefit from modern technology, digital business and new employment opportunities.

Arrangements and products at the exhibition

TDAP Quetta Director Noor Ali Achakzai said WEXNET Quetta has been organised to promote business activity among women, increase their participation in the province’s economic activity and support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He said women entrepreneurs are playing an important role in strengthening the national economy and promoting exports.

A total of 100 stalls have been set up at the two-day exhibition. B2B sessions, seminars, e-commerce facilities and business development activities have also been arranged to promote business links.

Products made by women from Kalat, Khuzdar, Turbat, Zhob, Gwadar, Loralai and Quetta, among other areas, are on display. They include textiles, agricultural products, handicrafts, gemstones, e-commerce items and general trade goods.

Chief guest Dr Rababa Khan Baledi visited all the stalls and met women entrepreneurs. She learnt about their products and business experiences and bought various items to encourage them.

She said the abilities of Balochistan’s women can be turned into economic independence by giving them suitable opportunities, and that their business success will play an important role in the province’s overall economic development.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan