Patriotism meets creativity
\nPESHAWAR
\nIn the heart of Peshawar\u2019s ancient Qissa Khwani Bazaar where history echoes through narrow alleys and age-old customs still hold firm\u2014one young graphic designer is quietly revolutionizing her life through hard work.
\nSamina Bibi, a graduate of the University of Peshawar, is not a typical job seeker. She chose not to pursue a coveted government position or chase scholarships abroad.
\nInstead, she picked up her tools, rolled up her sleeves, and stitched her future into something entirely her own\u2014a thriving graphic design business born from hardship, but built on courage.
\n\u201cWhen my father was diagnosed with kidney failure and we needed urgent funds for a transplant, I knew waiting for a job wasn\u2019t an option,\u201d Samina shares, her voice firm but reflective.
\n\u201cMy mother sold our 5-marla plot, and with that seed money, I launched a small design center.\u201d
\nToday, that center doesn\u2019t just support her family but also employs three workers and delivers large-scale design orders, including thousands of national flags and badges ahead of this year\u2019s Jashn-e-Azadi celebrations.
\n\u201cI work day and night to fulfill these Jashin e Azadi orders with bulk received from Govt departments, NGOs, educational Institutions, farmers and civil society,\u201d she says with a tired smile. \u201cBut it\u2019s worth it. I am building something I believe in for Pakistan.\u201d
\nDozens of graphic designers at Qissa Khwani and Jhangi Mohallah were working till late night to complete the Jashin e Azadi orders.
\nThese bazaars were beautifully decorated with national flags and photos of hereos of Pakistan movement looks festive.
\n\u201cI came from Nowshera to buy national flags and Jashin e Azadi accessaries to celeberate independence day with befitting manners\u201d Rehbar Khan (14) who was hoisting national flag on his motorbike at Qissa Khwani told APP.
\nAcross Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and increasingly, throughout Pakistan stories like Samina\u2019s are becoming more common due to Federal Govt youth empowerment projects.
\nThe traditional allure of secure, long-term government jobs is gradually giving way to a new wave of self-starters, especially among women and youth.
\nFor decades, employment in the public sector was viewed as the ultimate goal, particularly in KP\u2019s conservative communities.
\nBut technical education, combined with entrepreneurial spirit, is now offering an alternative path that one rooted in independence and innovation.
\n\u201cWomen\u2019s entrepreneurship is no longer just a symbol of social progress but an economic necessity,\u201d says Dr. Naeem Khattak, former Chairman of the Economics Department at the University of Peshawar.
\n\u201cTo unlock the true potential of our economy and provide jobs to millions of youth, we must provide women better access to credit, training, and mobility especially in marginalized areas.\u201d
\nThe federal government\u2019s ambitious economic reform plan, Uraan Pakistan, launched under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, seeks to turn this vision into reality.
\nSpanning five years, the initiative aims to promote exports, e-commerce, sustainability, and infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on empowering women and youth.
\n\u201cUraan is not just another policy file gathering dust,\u201d Dr. Naeem insists. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity map for young people especially women from remote areas. But its success depends on complementary investments in rural development: roads, schools, clean water, and training facilities.\u201d
\nIn regions like KP, where the urban-rural divide is stark, such investment is essential. Lack of employment and inadequate infrastructure push residents from tribal districts to overcrowded cities, where opportunities are few and services are stretched.
\n\u201cWithout building local economies, we risk leaving rural women behind,\u201d Dr. Naeem warns. \u201cBut entrepreneurship in these areas could be a game-changer.\u201d
\nRecognizing this potential, multiple organizations are stepping in. One notable effort is the Women Entrepreneurs Booster Package, a joint initiative by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Scheduled to launch from 2026\u20132030, the program will help women formalize businesses by providing mentorship, skills training, and financial assistance.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not just about profits but it\u2019s about sustainable livelihoods,\u201d explains a SMEDA spokesperson. \u201cWe\u2019re creating platforms that support women beyond the startup phase.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, the Prime Minister\u2019s Youth Program continues to expand opportunities through engineering internships, laptop schemes, and scholarships\u2014all with a focus on female inclusion.
\nBack in Peshawar, Samina Bibi\u2019s tiny graphic centre is humming with energy. Fabric scraps, computers, and vibrant designs fill the space, a blend of tradition and technology that symbolizes the future she\u2019s helping shape.
\nHer goal is to expand her business to University Road and open training opportunities for other young women like her those with talent but no platform.
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t need miracles,\u201d she says. \u201cWe just need the right tools and a chance to prove ourselves.\u201d
\nAnd as she threads her needle and sets to work, it\u2019s clear that technical education, coupled with resilience and a dream, is transforming lives\u2014one stitch at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Patriotism meets creativity PESHAWAR In the heart of Peshawar\u2019s ancient Qissa Khwani Bazaar where history echoes through narrow alleys and age-old customs still hold firm\u2014one young graphic designer is quietly revolutionizing her life through hard work. Samina Bibi, a graduate of the University of Peshawar, is not a typical job seeker. She chose not to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-494603","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n