KARACHI: Pakistan invited Meta on Thursday to maintain regular engagement with the government and explore areas of shared interest, including digital skills, capacity building for small and medium-sized enterprises, and digital literacy.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan raised the invitation during a meeting with a Meta delegation led by Tehara Punchihewa, Asia-Pacific public policy lead, and Vivian Liang, policy programs manager for Asia-Pacific, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce.
During the meeting, Khan welcomed Meta’s plan to train 1,000 Pakistani small and medium-sized enterprises in digital business and artificial intelligence, and invited the company to engage with Pakistan’s broader digital economy agenda.
The Meta delegation presented its Small Business Growth Academy, a program set to train 1,000 businesses across Pakistan between August and November on the company’s digital platforms, AI-powered business tools and online marketing strategies, the statement said. The program will be carried out by local partner AtomCamp and offered free of charge.
Meta said the initiative is designed to improve digital skills, expand market access, and support women entrepreneurs and businesses in smaller cities through a mix of in-person and online training sessions.
Khan said the government is placing digitization at the center of its reform agenda, with digital transformation efforts underway across ministries and public institutions to improve governance, service delivery and economic competitiveness.
He told the delegation that Pakistan is finalizing a comprehensive e-commerce policy and is also developing a broader artificial intelligence policy aimed at promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven economic growth.
“AI should not only be viewed as a conversational tool but as a technology capable of improving policy analysis, data-driven decision-making, business intelligence and public sector efficiency,” Khan said.
He added that Pakistan is increasingly focused on digital trade and e-commerce, and on using technology to expand exports, improve market intelligence and strengthen engagement with international markets through its trade missions abroad.
Khan encouraged Meta to work closely with the Directorate General of Trade Organizations, chambers of commerce, trade associations and other business groups to maximize the reach and impact of the SME training program. He said the Ministry of Commerce would help facilitate introductions and institutional connections across Pakistan’s business community.
Khan noted that Pakistan has already established digital partnerships with other global technology companies, including Alibaba and Google, and said the government welcomes further engagement with Meta to support the country’s digital economy.
The Meta delegation thanked Khan for his support of the Small Business Growth Academy and said it looked forward to connecting with the Directorate General of Trade Organizations and other business stakeholders to expand the program’s reach.
