Meta has announced a new initiative to provide free artificial intelligence (AI) and digital business training to 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Pakistan, as the country seeks to accelerate its digital transformation agenda.
The announcement was made during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and a Meta delegation led by Tehara Punchihewa, Asia-Pacific Public Policy, and Vivian Liang, Policy Programs Manager for Asia-Pacific.
During the meeting, Meta briefed the minister on its Small Business Growth Academy, under which 1,000 Pakistani SMEs will receive free training from August to November 2026. The program will be delivered in partnership with AtomCamp through both online and in-person sessions.
The training will cover Meta’s digital platforms, AI-powered business tools, digital marketing strategies, and online business growth techniques. According to Meta, the initiative is designed to improve digital skills, expand market access, and support women entrepreneurs as well as businesses operating in smaller cities.
Jam Kamal Khan welcomed the initiative and said the government has placed digitization at the center of its reform agenda. He noted that Pakistan is promoting digital transformation across ministries and public institutions to improve governance, service delivery, and economic competitiveness.
The commerce minister also informed the delegation that the government is finalizing a comprehensive National E-Commerce Policy, while work on a National Artificial Intelligence Policy is also underway to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven economic growth.
He emphasized that AI should be viewed not only as a conversational tool but also as a technology capable of enhancing policy analysis, data-driven decision-making, business intelligence, and public sector efficiency.
Highlighting Pakistan’s growing digital economy, expanding smartphone penetration, and young population, Jam Kamal Khan invited Meta to work closely with the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO), chambers of commerce, and trade associations to maximize the program’s outreach.
The minister also encouraged Meta to maintain long-term collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce on digital literacy, SME capacity building, and digital trade, while the Meta delegation reaffirmed its commitment to expanding cooperation and strengthening the Small Business Growth Academy across Pakistan.
