Davos, Switzerland | January 21, 2026 : The Pathfinder Group hosted a focused high-level session titled “Women Empowerment, Financial Inclusion & Family Healthcare” at the Pakistan Pavilion during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, Davos 2026. The event was held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Morosani Posthotel and brought together policymakers, development practitioners, academics, and global experts.
The session was hosted by Dr Huma Baqai, Senior Vice Chairperson of the Karachi Council on Foreign
Relations (KCFR) and Rector of the Millennium Institute of Technology Entrepreneurship (MiTE). The
event was graced by Hend Alhinnawi, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Humanitarian
Tracker, as the Chief Guest, highlighting the global development and humanitarian dimensions of the
discussion.
The distinguished panel of speakers included Dr Ying Zhang, Professor of Innovation and
Entrepreneurship, Founder and President of Singularity Academy, and Executive Chair of Verus Care
Group; and Dr Salma Malik, Associate Professor, Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University.
The session provided a platform for dialogue on inclusive development, women’s economic empowerment,
technology-enabled financial inclusion, and family-centered healthcare models, bringing together
perspectives from academia, public policy, humanitarian innovation, and social protection systems. The
discussion reflected Pathfinder Group’s broader commitment to advancing people-centered development
narratives within Pakistan’s engagement at the World Economic Forum.
For over two decades, Pathfinder Group has played a central role at Davos by organizing the Pakistan
Pavilion and convening high-impact dialogues that connect Pakistan with global thought leaders and
institutions, while promoting sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven development pathways.
With a powerful concluding vote of thanks, Ikram Sehgal, Co-Chairman of the Pathfinder Group,
emphatically reaffirmed the group's unwavering commitment to driving meaningful global conversations on
social inclusion, resilience, and human development through the World Economic Forum (WEF) platform.
This event served as a pivotal element in Pathfinder Group's strategic engagement at the WEF in Davos in
2026, underscoring Pakistan's crucial role in leading discussions on empowerment, equity, and sustainable
development on the global stage.
Dr Huma Baqai, underscored the importance of integrating women empowerment, financial access, and
family healthcare into national development frameworks. She emphasized evidence-based policymaking and
cross-sector collaboration to address structural inequalities.
Ms Hend Alhinnawi, highlighted the humanitarian and global development lens of women’s empowerment,
stressing data-driven solutions and accountability in delivering inclusive social outcomes. She emphasized
aligning local initiatives with global development goals.
Dr Ying Zhang, spoke on innovation-led entrepreneurship as a catalyst for women’s economic
participation. She emphasized the role of technology, scalable models, and inclusive healthcare ecosystems
in empowering women globally.
Dr Salma Malik, provided a strategic perspective on women empowerment within national security and
social stability frameworks. She stressed that inclusive development strengthens societal resilience and long-
term governance outcomes.
In his concluding remarks, Ikram Sehgal, Co-Chairman, Pathfinder Group, reaffirmed the Group’s
commitment to social inclusion and women empowerment. He cited Ms Zakia Khan, a grassroots leader
working with underprivileged communities in Chokki Mamraiz, Pabbi (KPK), as a powerful example of
women-led change. He noted that empowering such women at the community level creates sustainable
impact and reflects the true spirit of inclusive development.
