- Winners were announced at the finals pitch event following a three-month long program that kicked off in November 2025
- Anusha Fatima – TrashItwins the new Sustainability Award introduced for the first time this year
- Winners receive a USD10,000 grant each, a tailored training program, mentoring opportunities, and access to She’s Next Club resources such as a workshop library and a community of entrepreneurs
- An independent committee selected winners from almost 3,500 applicants across a variety of sectors including education, waste management, gaming, beauty and healthcare
Karachi, Pakistan – February 9, 2026–Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments,together with HBL, Pakistan’s premier private sector bank,today announced the five winners of the 2026 edition of the She’s Next program in Pakistan, including an award for most sustainable business at an award ceremony held at Pearl Continental hotel. These winners includedAIMAN SHAFIQUE-EV Square, ANUSHA FATIMA–Trashit(Sustainability award winner), FIZZA HUSSAIN-KhaasFoodz Kitchen, MAIRA SIDDIQUI-Chiragh Education Technologies, MEESHA BAIG-Goud.
Handpicked from a pool of almost 3,500 applicantswithin Pakistan, the five,winning woman-owned enterprises received a USD10,000 grant each, tailored guidance andexpert mentorship to give flight to their entrepreneurial ambitions. Winners will also receive access to resources such as a workshop library and a community of entrepreneurs to turn their business dreams into thriving realities and join the She’s Next Club. The winning businesses represent a range of sectors including but not limited toeducation, gaming, waste management and healthcare.
A juryevaluated entries based on the following criteria: the progression of applicants’entrepreneurial journeys;robustness of their business metrics; digital presence; and demonstrated ability to problem-solve confidently.The members of the jury included:Maya Inayat Ismail, ChairpersonHBL Microfinance Bank, HBL, Naz Khan, Principal Country Officer, IFC, Dan Baxter, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Events, CEMEA Visa, Mubariz Siddiqui, Founding Partner of Carbon Law and Ali Ladhubhai, Co-Founder, Abhi Microfinance Bank.
“It is with immense pride that we celebrate the winners of this year’s She’s Next program, an initiative crucial to fostering a future where every woman entrepreneur can achieve her fullest potential and build a legacy of success. The pitches we witnessed today showcase the highest ambition among women entrepreneurs in Pakistan,” said Leila Serhan, Vice President and Group Country Manager—North Africa, Levant and Pakistan.
“We saw significant interest this year with She’s Next attracting 3,500 applicants. We also expanded our offerings beyond funding to include invaluable mentorship from renowned Pakistani experts and critical market exposure. The value of this program is evident – we have seen women entrepreneurs from our last She’s Next program transform their ventures into larger, more profitable, and operationally efficient businesses. We also saw that real life reflected our research. The VisaWomen SMB Digitization Index unveileda compelling 87% of women owned businesses report high levels of digitization in their operations and we saw digitization to be a key tool woman are leveraging to build and market their businesses. We are dedicated tosupporting this trend with the resources, knowledge, and secure digital payment solutions essential for scaling their businesses, accessing new markets, and significantly contributing to Pakistan’s digital economic transformation.”
Aamir Kureshi, Head Products & Payments – HBL, said: “HBL congratulates the winners of this year’s She’s Next program for the clarity, ambition, and resilience reflected in their entrepreneurial journeys. In collaboration with Visa, the Bank continues to support initiatives that expand women’s participation in Pakistan’s economy and strengthen a vital driver of sustainable growth. This year’s program saw broader participation and deeper engagement than the previous edition, reflecting growing momentum among women entrepreneurs nationwide. As businesses scale, access to the right financial tools, payment solutions, and advisory support becomes essential to managing growth sustainably. Through She’s Next, HBL remains focused on enabling women entrepreneurs with practical, market-ready solutions that help them formalize, grow, and compete with confidence.”
The She’s Next Women SMB Digitization Index surveyed Pakistani women business owners who hold a notable share of senior leadership roles to understand their motivations and challenges, scoring enterprises based on five indicators: online presence, digital payments acceptance, payment security awareness, customer engagement, and customer retention. Despite their own personal hurdles and growth ambitions, women business owners are motivated by financial independence, and a deep desire to create supportive work environments which uplift societies. They are integrating payment technologies and artificial intelligence to overcome obstacles and drive their businesses forward.
The Index showed women at the forefront of AI adoption, integrating a diverse range of AI tools. A significant 49% of women-led businesses use natural language processing (NLP) tools such as ChatGPT, 43% utilize data analytics and pattern recognition, and 43% employ Chatbots or virtual assistants. They rely on business mentors or coaches (40%) for advice, indicating a strong value placed on guidance and development. Their motivations for starting a business include being financially independent (39%) and creating a workplace that is supportive of women (24%), underscoring their commitment to fostering positive and empowering environments.
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Visa, visamiddleeast.com/blogand @Visacemea
About HBL
HBL was the first Pakistani commercial bank to be established in Pakistan in 1947. Over the years, HBL has maintained its position as the premier private sector bank in Pakistan with 1,600+ branches, 2,260+ ATMs, 54,400+ Konnect by HBL agents (branchless banking platform), 42,000+ QR locations serving over 40 million+ clients worldwide. The Bank is recognized as the leading financial institution of the country for its client-centric innovation in financial services – providing regional relevance for its clients in the countries where the bank conducts its business.
