The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, in collaboration with Meta, has launched the Small Business Growth Academy in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Khawaja highlighted that empowering Pakistan's SMEs with digital and AI capabilities is essential to building a more inclusive, innovative and competitive economy.

She said 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.

Shaza Fatima said 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.

In her remarks, Associate Public Policy Manager for Asia-Pacific at Meta, Tehara Punchihewa, said the Small Business Growth Academy will the programme will be implemented across major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Hyderabad, Peshawar and Quetta.

The Small Business Growth Academy will provide practical, market-oriented training on Meta's digital platforms and AI-enabled tools.

It is 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.

The programme will be delivered in collaboration with Meta, implemented by AtomCamp, and supported by Ignite National Technology Fund, Pakistan Software Houses Association, Pakistan Software Export Board, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, and DialZero.

It is also aimed at reaching more than one thousand 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.