How PTCL’s Tech for Inclusion Initiative, Ba-Ikhtiar is Opening New Possibilities for Women

In practice, the models walked the runway. The clothes looked real.

Key points

• The programme has additionally expanded geographically, with Phase II covering 22 districts and aiming to reach 2, 100 women.
• Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
• Add as a preferredSource on Google Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp.
• Last year, Islamabad witnessed Pakistan's first-ever AI-powered fashion show, where clothing designs created by women entrepreneurs were showcased on AI-generated models.
• The designs were intricate, colourful and distinctly Pakistani, but there was something unusual regarding this fashion show: none of the models were real.

In practice, the models walked the runway. The clothes looked real. The designs were intricate, colourful and distinctly Pakistani, but there was something unusual regarding this fashion show: none of the models were real.

Last year, Islamabad witnessed Pakistan's first-ever AI-powered fashion show, where clothing designs created by women entrepreneurs were showcased on AI-generated models. The event brought together two worlds that rarely meet in such a setting, traditional craftsmanship and artificial intelligence. Real garments, created by women from underserved communities, were digitally brought to life on a virtual catwalk.

In practice, the idea was simple but striking. The women had created the designs; technology created a new way for the world to see them.

In practice, the fashion show was part of the graduation ceremony of women participating in Ba-Ikhtiar, PTCL's initiative focused on helping women build livelihoods through technology, skills and access to opportunity. The event celebrated the completion of the programme by its first cohort and showcased how far the participants had come.

In practice, the story of Ba-Ikhtiar, nevertheless, began well before the AI fashion show.

In practice, the programme began in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with 100 young women who already had skills in stitching and embroidery but had limited access to markets and economic opportunities. PTCL, in partnership with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), set out to bridge that gap by combining vocational skills with digital literacy, entrepreneurship, financial awareness and access to online markets.

What followed was a shift in how these women could employ their skills. Their work was no longer confined to local markets or their immediate communities. With digital tools and market linkages, they began exploring e-commerce and building businesses around their craft. Some participants went on to showcase their work at GITEX Global in Dubai and Lok Mela, giving their skills visibility far beyond Haripur.

Ba-Ikhtiar demonstrated that technology can amplify talent that already exists. The women did not need to become technology experts to benefit from innovation. They needed access to the tools, knowledge and platforms that could support their abilities reach further.

That thinking has additionally shaped the programme's expansion. Building on the Haripur experience, Ba-Ikhtiar has moved beyond its original focus on stitching and embroidery and expanded into areas including pottery, handicrafts, food preservation, online tutoring and organic cosmetics. The programme has additionally expanded geographically, with Phase II covering 22 districts and aiming to reach 2, 100 women.

For PTCL, this is the larger purpose of connectivity. A network connects individuals, but technology can do much more when it connects residents to knowledge, markets, financial services and opportunities. Ba-Ikhtiar reflects PTCL's vision of using its technology and connectivity capabilities to contribute to a more inclusive digital economy-one where women are not simply users of technology, but entrepreneurs, creators and active participants in shaping what comes next. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

Obtain the latest tech news, telecom insights, and product launches wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover.

Taken together, the developments around how PTCL's Tech for Inclusion Initiative, Ba-Ikhtiar is Opening New Possibilities for point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.