Pakistan hosts nearly three million displaced people, with over 1.7 million registered Afghan refugees. These refugees face systemic barriers to accessing basic services, education, and formal employment.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) works with local partners to build digital and entrepreneurship skills that have enabled refugees and host communities to launch thriving small businesses.
Zara Batool, an Afghan refugee, grew up in a joint family system on the outskirts of Quetta, Pakistan. Like many refugees, she sought different opportunities to support herself and younger siblings.
Nothing worked out until she heard about a free graphic design and affiliate marketing training program during a community mobilization session. The training was executed by the Innovative Development Organization (IDO), ITC’s local partner in Quetta.
Zara registered and was selected for the three-month training. She and 26 other participants learnt about website development, search engine optimization, social media engagement, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Canva.
‘At the start, I didn’t know anything about affiliate marketing. But after I joined, I learned it step by step — from understanding what affiliate marketing means to creating a website, researching my niche, and learning how to attract people to my page’, she said.
At the end of the training, she launched a small affiliate marketing business where she has been earning income by promoting other companies’ products.
With her thriving affiliate marketing business, other young refugees see her as a role model. She now dreams of mentoring others and expanding her digital business.
‘I used to think earning online was impossible for girls like me. Now, I am doing it. I want more girls to know that they can do it too’, Zara said.
Afghan Refugees And Host Communities Learn Together
For Mir Waise, an Afghan refugee, he separated from his parents in Mastung and moved to Quetta in search of better opportunities. Not that Quetta was more promising, but Mir Waise believed the worst option would be to remain in Mastung.
Four months after moving to Quetta, he also heard about the training during a community mobilization session.
He registered and was selected. He specialises in affiliate marketing and looks forward to running his business.
‘I now dream of supporting my family back in Mastung and helping other young refugees realize that learning digital skills can transform their lives,’ Mir Waise said.
This training changed the way I see my future. It gave me hope, confidence, and the skills to earn with dignity.
Shamim and Fahima learned about the free training online. They registered out of curiosity and the desire to learn something new.
Learning was tough for them initially, but they grew to enjoy the interesting and creative sessions.
Today, Shamim works as a freelance graphic designer, taking on projects for local clients and small businesses. She focuses on social media content creation and brand designs.
‘Before this course, I never imagined that I could earn through design. Now, I have a profession that allows me to create, connect, and contribute,’ Shamim said.
Fahima, on the other hand, wants to start a small business where she can create websites for businesses in Quetta and beyond.
She aims to leverage the networks of other participants and trainers that she built during her training.