06 Aug
Pehchaan

Hira | Pehchaan

Before joining ITHM, a Training Service Provider (TSP) under PSDF’s Pehchaan program, Hira faced constant rejection while searching for work because of discrimination. With no professional cooking skills and limited opportunities, she struggled to build a stable future.

Everything changed when a teacher encouraged her to enroll in ITHM’s professional cooking course. The training equipped Hira with practical culinary skills and restored her confidence to pursue meaningful employment.

“Before this training, I was barely surviving. Today, I have dignified work, confidence, and hope for a better future.”

Today, Hira works as a trainer at ITHM while also providing catering services for a hostel and mess. Earning between PKR 50,000 and 60,000 per month, she now supports herself financially, pays her university fees, and continues to build her career. Known for her delicious desi cuisine—especially her Karachi biryani—Hira has become a favorite among her clients.

Hira believes the skills she gained through PSDF’s Pehchaan program have given her the opportunity to build an independent, empowered life while inspiring others in her community.

06 Aug
Pehchaan

Ghazala | Catering Entrepreneur

In Multan, Ghazala grew up in a Khwaja Sira community where access to education and employment has long been limited by discrimination. Harassment and bullying at school made it difficult for her to continue her studies, leaving her with few opportunities to build a stable future.

Her journey took a new direction when she enrolled in a professional training program at a trans-friendly Training Service Provider (TSP) under PSDF’s initiative, ITHM. There, Ghazala gained practical skills that gave her the confidence to pursue her passion for cooking.

She started a small catering business, initially serving her own community. Through referrals from fellow Guru Shani and the quality of her work, her business steadily expanded beyond the community, earning the trust of a wider customer base.

Today, Ghazala leads a team of five to six people, many of whom are members of the Khwaja Sira community who had received training elsewhere but struggled to secure employment. By creating opportunities for others, she is helping build careers while proving the value of inclusion and equal opportunity.

“If we support each other, we can easily move forward. In this way, we give the world a message that we are hardworking people, and they do not belittle us.”

Her growing income has enabled her to improve her quality of life, from purchasing a mobile phone and a motorcycle to planning for a car. Yet, her greatest ambition is to continue expanding her business, creating more dignified and sustainable employment opportunities for members of her community, and inspiring others to believe in their potential.

04 Aug
MEIN DIGITAL

Household Responsibilities to Financial Independence: Zubia Tasleem’s Story

“Today, I am not just a housewife. I am a proud provider for my family, my parents, and my husband.”

In a village in District Toba Tek Singh, Zubia Tasleem grew up watching her father, a tailor, work tirelessly to support his children’s education. Although she earned her degree, limited employment opportunities in her hometown left her unable to pursue the career she had envisioned. After getting married in 2018, household responsibilities pushed those ambitions even further away.

Her turning point came through PSDF’s Mein Digital program, an initiative launched under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Selected on merit, Zubia received a desktop computer that enabled her to begin her digital learning journey. Under the guidance of her mentor, Saima Ali, she developed practical skills in e-commerce, digital marketing, and graphic design, while gaining the confidence to build a career from home.

Within just four weeks of completing the program, Zubia was earning PKR 200,000 per month, managing seven to eight client projects remotely from home.

What began with digital training and a desktop computer became a pathway to financial independence, allowing Zubia to support her family while building a successful career without leaving her home.

04 Aug
MEIN DIGITAL

Building a Digital Future: Anmol Asim’s Entrepreneurial Journey

Anmol Asim, from Alipur Chatta, always dreamed of running her own e-commerce business. After completing her Master’s in Zoology from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, she realized that while she had the education, she lacked the practical digital skills needed to turn her dream into reality.

Everything changed when she joined PSDF’s Mein Digital program. Through hands-on training, Anmol learned digital marketing, English communication, and the fundamentals of online entrepreneurship. More importantly, she gained the confidence to think and act like a business owner.


“I am excited to start my own business, and I believe it will be a catalyst in providing me with a financially secure future.”

Today, Anmol is preparing to launch her own online venture with the skills and confidence she developed through the program. She hopes her journey will encourage other young women in rural communities to believe that entrepreneurship is within their reach.

Anmol’s story demonstrates how access to practical digital skills can transform ambition into opportunity. Through the Mein Digital program, she is taking the first steps toward financial independence while inspiring other women to pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams.

04 Aug
MEIN DIGITAL

From a Promise to a Purpose: Maria Riasat’s Digital Entrepreneurship Journey

Maria Riasat always dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur. Growing up in Rasul Nagar, a small town in Tehsil Alipur Chatta, she believed that earning a university degree would open the door to meaningful career opportunities. After completing her BS in Zoology, however, she found herself facing the same challenge experienced by many educated women in rural Punjab—limited employment opportunities despite having the qualifications and determination to succeed.

The loss of her father became a defining moment in her life. Along with the grief came a promise she had made to him and the confidence he had always placed in her abilities. Determined to honor that promise, Maria refused to let her ambitions fade.

“With the help of the Mein Digital program and the skills I learnt, I feel confident and hopeful while running an online business, as I want to be a role model in my area.”
— Maria Riasat

With the encouragement of her brother, Maria enrolled in PSDF’s Mein Digital program. The training equipped her with practical digital skills, including digital marketing, English communication, and the knowledge required to source and sell products through Amazon. More importantly, the program gave her the confidence and direction to transform her entrepreneurial aspirations into a realistic business plan.

Today, Maria is preparing to launch an online business alongside her sister, offering organic pickles and handmade face masks. What once seemed impossible has become an achievable reality, allowing her to reach customers beyond her hometown through digital platforms.

For Maria, success is about more than building a business. She hopes her journey encourages other women in her community to believe in their own potential and embrace the opportunities that digital skills can create. By demonstrating that entrepreneurship is within reach, she is helping break barriers for women who have long faced limited economic opportunities.

Maria’s story highlights the transformative power of digital education. Through the Mein Digital program, she has not only created a pathway toward financial independence but has also become an inspiration for aspiring women entrepreneurs. Her journey shows that when ambition is matched with the right skills and support, digital opportunities can turn personal dreams into lasting community impact.