Title: Contributing factors of women entrepreneurs' business growth and failure in Pakistan

Authors: Shaista Noor; Filzah Md. Isa

Addresses: Faculty of Business, Taylors University, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia ' Faculty of Business, Taylors University, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Abstract: Women entrepreneurship is considered as a leading building block of economy as it plays an important role in job creation, self-development and pay back as economic progress of country. Pakistan being a developing country is in initial phase of entrepreneurship and female participation in economic activities is low. A report by the Global Economy (2016) stated that women's economic participation and opportunities in Pakistan ranked 143 out of 144. A qualitative study was conducted in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and 25 female entrepreneurs were interviewed. The findings revealed that complex governmental policies and financial institutions procedures are the main reason of their failure to achieve their entrepreneurial objectives. The main obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs are lack of confidence, less education, market awareness, dual role, low bargaining abilities and mobility constraints. The study will be useful for policy makers to formulate the policies and strategies in order to promote women entrepreneurship.

Keywords: women entrepreneurship; success; challenges; Pakistan; business growth.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2020.109115

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2020 Vol.25 No.4, pp.503 - 518

Received: 04 Jun 2018
Accepted: 26 Sep 2018
Published online: 21 Aug 2020 *

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