ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for accelerated efforts to expand the participation of women and small businesses in the country’s industrial sector, describing such initiatives as “vital to sustainable national growth.”
Chairing a high-level meeting on the restructuring of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), the prime minister said Pakistan’s industrial progress depends on the development of home-based, small, and medium-sized industries.
He directed that a clear timeline be set for implementing SMEDA’s new roadmap and emphasized that its execution must begin “as soon as possible.”
“The promotion of women’s participation in SMEs is a welcome step, and awareness about this initiative must be expanded,” the prime minister said, adding that registration of home-based industries should be encouraged to make it easier for them to access business loans and expand operations.
Highlighting global best practices, Sharif noted that in developed countries, large industries rely on SMEs for raw materials, and that Pakistan must strengthen its SME base to achieve similar industrial integration.
He also directed the relevant ministries to ensure skills training for rural SMEs in agricultural processing, creating new opportunities for rural entrepreneurship.
Women Empowerment and Digital Inclusion
The meeting reviewed ongoing reforms within SMEDA and the progress of initiatives to promote SMEs across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, where new SME offices have already opened and received positive feedback from the public and local chambers of commerce.
Officials briefed the meeting that a Womenpreneurship Platform, based on artificial intelligence, is being developed to empower women in business. The digital platform will provide comprehensive guidance on registration, taxation, and skills training to help women entrepreneurs establish and grow their ventures.
Strengthening SME Ecosystem
The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the Ministry of Industries and Production’s efforts to reorganize SMEDA and strengthen the SME sector. He was informed that a private-sector-led board has been established, and the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer will be completed soon.
The meeting also reviewed a roadmap aimed at integrating SMEs into the formal economy, with significant progress already reported in improving credit access, investment, and capacity building through the steering committee’s directives.
