The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and Meta have launched the Small Business Growth Academy in Pakistan to help small and medium-sized businesses adopt digital and AI-enabled technologies. The initiative aims to improve productivity, expand customer reach, strengthen digital marketing, automate customer interactions, and help businesses access local and international markets.

The initiative aims to improve productivity, expand customer reach, strengthen digital marketing, automate customer interactions, and help businesses access local and international markets.

The programme is designed to support more than 1,000 small businesses across Pakistan through practical training on Meta’s digital platforms and AI-enabled tools. It will focus on helping entrepreneurs build stronger digital presences, reach new customers, improve marketing effectiveness and identify opportunities for business expansion.

The initiative is also expected to support Pakistan’s wider digital transformation by helping small businesses and women-led ventures use technology to compete more effectively in the global digital marketplace.

The Small Business Growth Academy will provide practical, market-oriented training through in-person and virtual workshops, structured learning modules and partner-led training.

The programme will be delivered in collaboration with Meta and implemented by AtomCamp. It is supported by Ignite National Technology Fund, Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), and DialZero.

The training will cover digital capabilities that can translate directly into business growth, improved market access and increased competitiveness.

The programme will be implemented across Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Hyderabad, Peshawar and Quetta. It will place particular emphasis on women-led businesses and entrepreneurs working in sectors including textiles, handicrafts and IT services.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Khawaja said that giving Pakistan’s SMEs digital and AI capabilities was essential to building a more inclusive, innovative and competitive economy.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, and empowering them with digital and AI capabilities is central to the Prime Minister’s vision of an inclusive, innovation-driven future. This partnership with Meta reflects our commitment to fostering meaningful public-private collaboration that creates opportunities for businesses, strengthens digital skills, and accelerates Pakistan’s journey towards a Digital Nation Pakistan.”

The minister also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the government, technology companies and industry stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach businesses across Pakistan.

Tehara Punchihewa, Associate Public Policy Manager for Asia-Pacific at Meta, said that small businesses are already using Meta’s AI-enabled tools to reach customers and grow.

She said the Small Business Growth Academy aims to give more entrepreneurs the practical skills and support needed to use these tools confidently, compete more effectively and participate in opportunities created by the digital economy.

The Small Business Growth Academy is being rolled out across 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with the initial objective of supporting businesses across the region.

In Pakistan, the programme will be tailored to local market requirements and focus on practical digital capabilities that can support business growth, improved market access and increased competitiveness.

The Small Business Growth Academy in Pakistan is part of Meta’s broader Asia-Pacific initiative to work with governments, industry partners and local organizations to equip entrepreneurs with practical digital and AI skills and expand their participation in opportunities offered by the digital economy.

The initiative is aligned with the government’s vision of building an inclusive, digitally empowered economy where businesses, particularly small enterprises and women-led ventures, can use technology to improve productivity, expand their customer base and compete more effectively in the global digital marketplace.

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