'IT innovation without women impossible'
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Empowering women in technology and entrepreneurship is unavoidable, and innovation without women's participation is not complete in any field of business, women entrepreneurs said.
They noted that the share of women in the overall workforce of the IT sector continues to grow due to the increasing presence of female professionals in the industry, coupled with the growing trend of flexible working conditions under hybrid and work-from-home models.
According to the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA)'s report on diversity and inclusion, female workforce participation has grown to 16% in Pakistan, which has now reached 20%, as per estimates.
They shared these insights during a programme titled "Women Tech Quest (WTQ) 2025"Pakistan's leading tech competition and conference dedicated to empowering women in technology. Featuring exciting tech challenges, inspiring speaker sessions, and networking opportunities, WTQ is committed to breaking barriers and creating opportunities for women to thrive and excel in the rising tech industry, both nationally and internationally.
WTQ, the pioneer tech competition for women in Pakistan and an initiative of 10Pearls, serves as a platform for students and professional women to compete, learn, network, and showcase their competency and talent in tech. The 9th edition of WTQ was held on Saturday evening in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, with over 3,000 women from various fields of technology in attendance.
WTQ was launched in 2017 as a competition dedicated to highlighting women in tech, providing them with a platform to showcase their skills, gain widespread recognition, and win cash prizes and exposure to further fuel their careers.
Mehwish Salman Ali, an award-winning serial entrepreneur, a passionate advocate for women's empowerment, and a pioneer in AI-driven solutions, said that women are not only participating in technology and entrepreneurship but are also leading, innovating, and reshaping the tech industry. In Pakistan, female workforce participation has jumped to 22% from 14%.
She said, "The momentum is unstoppable. This is an era of women and innovation."
According to Syeda Sana Hussain, Head of People & Programmes – EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) at 10Pearls, "The 9th chapter of Women Tech Quest has solidified its purpose in the minds of young, female tech enthusiasts nationwide. It goes to show that our vision nine years agoof creating an inclusive space for women to come forward in techhas come to fruition. With each year, we are just getting bigger and better. Every year, we are breaking even more barriers and reaching out to more and more women. Now, all our focus is on the next WTQ, which will mark a decade of empowering women and accelerating careers!"
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