Theatre Wallay, Austrian Embassy Highlight Women’s Entrepreneurship in Rawalpindi
RAWALPINDI, October 17, 2026: Theatre Wallay and the Austrian Embassy in Islamabad, in collaboration with Shirakat Foundation, staged an Urdu theatre performance highlighting women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship and economic independence at UC Sahang in Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi.
The 45-minute performance brought together around 100 women entrepreneurs and beneficiaries of Shirakat Foundation’s Manzil, Thriving Futures and SELMA projects to explore the opportunities and challenges women face in establishing businesses and building sustainable livelihoods.
The play used theatre as an accessible platform to raise awareness about women micro-entrepreneurs and their contribution to economic development. It highlighted social attitudes and practical barriers that can limit women’s participation in economic activities, encouraging audience members to reflect on ways to support women in achieving financial independence.
A key focus of the performance was the importance of enabling women to develop their business skills, strengthen their livelihoods and expand their entrepreneurial activities.
The event was attended by Austrian Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Wolfgang Kutschera, who appreciated the theatrical presentation. Representatives of the Austrian Embassy and members of the press were also present.
Shirakat Foundation facilitated the initiative by connecting the organisers with local communities and women micro-entrepreneurs, ensuring that the performance reached its intended beneficiaries.
A women-led organisation, Shirakat Foundation began as a volunteer initiative following the 2005 earthquake and has since developed into a nationally recognised non-profit organisation. Its work spans community development, research, policy advocacy, and the empowerment of women and young people.
Over the past five years, the foundation has supported more than 4,000 micro-entrepreneurs through comprehensive training, marketing support, digital marketing opportunities, exposure and mentorship aimed at helping them grow their businesses.
The foundation is currently implementing three projects: Manzil, SELMA and Thriving Futures, which support its broader efforts to strengthen women’s economic participation and entrepreneurial capacity.
Theatre Wallay, an Islamabad-based theatre group founded by Artistic Director Fizza Hasan, works at the intersection of theatre, education, cultural exchange and social change. The group uses theatrical performances to encourage dialogue, raise awareness and engage communities on important social issues.
The performance at UC Sahang demonstrated how community-based theatre can create opportunities for discussion about women’s economic empowerment. By bringing the realities of entrepreneurship to the stage, the initiative encouraged women to reflect on their potential, business opportunities and the challenges they may encounter while pursuing financial independence.