Urban Female Entrepreneurs: An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

Although women constitute nearly half of Pakistan’s population, female 
entrepreneurship continues to face substantial personal, social, and 
financial challenges. Limited access to professional networks, regulatory 
constraints, and institutional barriers significantly impedes the growth and 
sustainability of women-owned businesses in the country. In response, 
this study empirically examines the effects of personality traits, push and 
pull motivations, institutional environment, perceived access to finance, 
professional networks, and government and NGO assistance on Female 
Entrepreneurial Activity (FEA). Using a quantitative research design, data 
were collected through a survey employing simple random sampling from 
400 urban female entrepreneurs. The data were analyzed using SmartPLS. 
The findings reveal that most determinants have a positive and significant 
influence on FEA, while access to formal networks, opportunity-driven 
motivation, and risk-taking propensity do not show significant effects. 
These results indicate that entrepreneurial behavior among urban women 
is shaped by complex contextual and individual dynamics, challenging 
some conventional assumptions in entrepreneurship literature. From a 
policy and research perspective, this study offers valuable insights for 
government and development stakeholders in formulating targeted urban 
policies aimed at effectively harnessing female entrepreneurial potential. 
While existing research predominantly emphasizes rural female 
entrepreneurship, this study addresses a critical gap by focusing on the 
urban context. By doing so, it contributes meaningfully to the literature on 
female entrepreneurship in Pakistan and provides an evidence-based 
foundation for inclusive and sustainable urban economic development.