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In a Pakistan valley, a small revolution among women

Pakistan · 13 June 2025 ·

In Pakistan, Women Social Enterprise, now renamed CIQAM, trains young women, mainly from poor and marginalised families, in a variety of non-traditional technical skills including masonry and carpentry, providing much-needed services to a number of local and national businesses. The programme engages these trainees in heritage development project activities of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. By transforming their skills into formal business, CIQAM supports young women to overcome social restrictions, gain economic empowerment and provide an income for their families.

AKTC

Media Source: Arab News (Pakistan)

Date: 13 June 2025

Hunza Valley’s population of around 50,000, spread across mountains abounding with apricot, cherry, walnut and mulberry orchards, follow the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam led by the Aga Khan. He established a girls’ school in Hunza in 1946, kickstarting an educational investment that pushed the valley’s literacy rate to 97 percent for both men and women. That rate far outstrips the country average of around 68 percent for men and 52.8 percent for women. As a result, attitudes have shifted, and women like Amina are taking expanded roles. “People thought women were there to wash dishes and do laundry,” Amina said of the generation before her. Trained by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) to help renovate the ancient Altit Fort, Amina later used her skills to start her own business. Her carpenters are currently at work on commission from a luxury hotel.

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In a Pakistan valley, a small revolution among women

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