The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), in partnership with Meta, launched the Small Business Growth Academy in Pakistan, a landmark initiative aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of small and medium-sized businesses and enabling entrepreneurs to harness digital and AI-enabled technologies for growth, innovation and access to domestic and international markets.
The initiative is aligned with the Government’s vision of building an inclusive, digitally empowered economy in which businesses—particularly small enterprises and women-led ventures—can leverage technology to enhance productivity, expand their customer base and compete more effectively in the global digital marketplace.
The Small Business Growth Academy will provide practical, market-oriented training on Meta’s digital platforms and AI-enabled tools. The programme will be delivered in collaboration with Meta, implemented by AtomCamp, and 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 programme aims to reach more than 1,000 small businesses across Pakistan through in-person and virtual workshops, structured learning modules and partner-led training.
The training will focus on enabling entrepreneurs to build and strengthen their digital presence, reach new customers, enhance marketing effectiveness, automate customer interactions, improve productivity and identify opportunities for expansion in local and international markets.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Khawaja highlighted that empowering Pakistan’s SMEs with 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 further emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, technology companies and industry stakeholders in ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation reach businesses across Pakistan.
Tehara Punchihewa, Associate Public Policy Manager for Asia-Pacific at Meta, said: “At Meta, we see every day how small businesses use our AI-enabled tools to reach customers and grow. The Small Business Growth Academy is about giving more entrepreneurs the practical skills and support they need to use these tools confidently, compete more effectively, and take part in the opportunities being created by the digital economy.”
The programme will be implemented across major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Hyderabad, Peshawar and Quetta, with particular emphasis on supporting women-led businesses and entrepreneurs in key sectors including textiles, handicrafts and IT services.
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, with a focus on practical digital capabilities that can translate directly into business growth, improved market access and increased competitiveness.
The Small Business Growth Academy in Pakistan forms part of Meta’s broader Asia-Pacific initiative to collaborate with governments, industry partners and local organisations to equip entrepreneurs with practical digital and AI skills and expand their participation in the opportunities offered by the digital economy.
