Former actor Mashal Khan discussed the importance of women being financially independent and

Everyone is just selling something, sharing a link, or making their own money," she said. Noting the importance of financial planning for women in particular, Mashal questioned, "What happens if the husband dies and everything goes to his family?

Where will you go when your safety was tied to him and not in a good way? " She continued, "You do not do financial planning because you hope something bad will happen, but rather because there is a rare risk that you may someday have to handle a difficult situation.

"Mashal added, "Financial literacy is not just a woman’s issue. ", investors and business owners in Pakistan often took advantage of ordinary people while catering primarily to the elite.

You do not serve an ordinary person," she said. Further, Mashal shared her views regarding poverty and Pakistan's education levels, emphasising that she wanted to be someone who made a positive difference.

What kind of person would I be if I had every chance to do something for my own country but instead I made a name for myself and left to go abroad?

" she noted. Moving to discuss the ways in which men and women differed in their approach to financial decision-making, Mashal argued that the former could be more influenced by their ego than women, which could affect their financial decisions and everyday business transactions.

They actually historically make better fund managers than men globally," she said. The former actor added, "I have seen the smartest man make the stupidest decisions based on emotions. "Alongside her advocacy for financial literacy, Mashal also opened up about her decision to leave acting, saying she hoped to pursue things that brought her genuine happiness and a sense of purpose. "I realised I wanted something else from life.

It is the pockets of happiness you get alongside the journey, and I never got that in the showbiz," she said. Mashal stressed, however, that she did not blame the industry itself, but believed she was not suited to the particular working environment.

I do not want to be happy for just one day but every day," she said. Mashal is currently a managing director and chief marketing officer at KTrade Securities, a brokerage firm, where she is also involved in retail trading.