KSBL and UNDP Launch WELD Sindh Chapter to Strengthen Women’s Leadership in Public Sector and SMEs
Karachi, April 24, 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan, and the Karachi School of Business & Leadership (KSBL) in collaboration with Planning, and Development Department of Government of Sindh, have launched the Women Economic and Financial Leadership Development (WELD) Sindh Chapter. The three-day Executive Education programme, held from 21–23 April 2026 at the KSBL Campus, Karachi, is designed to strengthen the leadership capabilities of women professionals from Sindh’s public sector and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), equipping them to drive inclusive economic growth and effective policy outcomes across the province.
WELD Sindh Chapter participants after the completion of the three-day training.
A Curriculum Blending Competence and Values
The Sindh Chapter builds on the WELD framework first established in 2025, blending technical rigour with values-based leadership grounded in KSBL’s Character and Good Manners (CGM) philosophy. Sessions address economic resilience in uncertain contexts, financial literacy and decision-making, and data-driven policy formulation. Leadership modules invite participants to reflect on values and vision, while applied exercises in communication, negotiation, and professional presence provide the tools to lead with integrity and drive lasting institutional change.
A Cohort Rooted in Sindh’s Institutions and Enterprise
This edition brings together 30+ women leaders from Sindh’s provincial government departments and SMEs, reflecting the province’s critical role in Pakistan’s economic and administrative landscape. Participants represent a range of sectors including public finance, planning and development, health, education, and entrepreneurship, creating a rich environment for cross-sectoral exchange and peer learning between policymakers and private sector leaders.
Participants of WELD Sindh Chapter engaged in group activities, simulations, and case studies.
Celebrating a Shared Commitment
The programme concluded with a closing ceremony celebrating the achievements of the Sindh Chapter cohort, underscoring the shared commitment of UNDP and KSBL to closing Pakistan’s leadership gender gap, one province at a time, by addressing both institutional barriers and individual skill gaps.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Asghar Zaidi, Rector of KSBL, remarked:
“At KSBL, we believe opportunities for financial and economic leadership for women are not a privilege; they are a right. The WELD Sindh Chapter reflects our commitment to ensuring that women across the province have the knowledge, confidence, and tools to lead at every level. True leadership is built on character, competence, and conduct – and that is what WELD is designed to nurture. We do not see WELD simply as a programme; we see it as a movement for shaping the next generation of women leaders.”
Naghma-e-Tehniat Jerral, Head of Development Policy Unit, and Economist, UNDP Pakistan, added:
“When women are equipped to lead in financial and economic spaces, not just as participants, but as decision-makers, communities benefit directly. We see it in stronger institutions, more responsive service delivery, and more inclusive policy.”
While closing, Fatima Saima, Chief Development, Planning and Development Department, Government of Sindh, shared:
“Initiatives like WELD are essential to our vision of cultivating capable and forward-looking public sector leaders who lead with character.”
Rector KSBL, Dr. Asghar Zaidi, Head of Development Policy Unit at UNDP, Naghma-e-Tehniat, and Chief Development, Planning and Development, Fatima Saima giving their remarks.
As WELD expands to Sindh, the programme reinforces the commitment of KSBL and UNDP Pakistan to building a new generation of women leaders who will shape the province’s economic and public policy future with integrity, vision, and resilience.