Key Takeaways
- Pakistan has invited global tech giant Meta to expand its engagement in the country.
- Meta will train 1,000 Pakistani SMEs on digital business and AI tools from August to November 2026.
- The program aims to improve digital skills, market access, and support women entrepreneurs.
Pakistan has extended an invitation to global technology giant Meta for enhanced cooperation in the areas of digital skills, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capacity building, and digital literacy. This initiative was discussed during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and a Meta delegation led by Tehara Punchihewa and Vivian Liang.
During the meeting, the minister expressed his enthusiasm about Meta’s Small Business Growth Academy program, which will train 1,000 SMEs across Pakistan from August to November 2026. The training will be conducted through local partner AtomCamp, with participation free of cost. The program aims to enhance digital skills, expand market access, and support women entrepreneurs in smaller cities.
Government officials highlighted the importance of digitization as a central component of their reform agenda. Minister Kamal Khan stated that digital transformation is being pursued across various ministries and public institutions to improve governance, service delivery, and economic competitiveness. He also mentioned that Pakistan is currently finalizing an E-Commerce Policy and working on an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven economic growth.
The minister emphasized the potential of AI beyond just conversational tools, stressing its role in improving policy analysis, data-driven decision-making, business intelligence, and public sector efficiency. He noted that Pakistan is increasingly focusing on digital trade, e-commerce, and using technology to expand exports, improve market intelligence, and strengthen engagement with international markets through its trade missions abroad.
To maximize the impact of the SME training program, Minister Kamal Khan encouraged Meta to engage closely with the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO), chambers of commerce, trade associations, business organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. He assured the delegation that the Ministry of Commerce would facilitate introductions and institutional linkages across Pakistan’s business community.
Pakistan has already initiated digital partnerships with leading global technology companies such as Alibaba and Google. The minister expressed a willingness to further engage with Meta to support the country's digital economy, noting that the partnership could be mutually beneficial for both parties.
The Meta delegation presented its Small Business Growth Academy, a program that will train 1,000 SMEs across Pakistan between August and November 2026 on Meta’s digital platforms, AI-powered business tools and online marketing strategies.
Tehara Punchihewa and Vivian Liang, Asia-Pacific Public Policy and Policy Programs Manager, Asia-Pacific
Government is placing digitisation at the centre of its reform agenda, with digital transformation being pursued across ministries and public institutions to improve governance, service delivery and economic competitiveness.
Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce
