The government will soon launch a new AI-powered “Womenpreneurship Platform” to help women entrepreneurs register their businesses, manage tax matters, and access training and market information.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was briefed on the project during a meeting on SME development and the reorganization of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The platform is designed to enhance women’s participation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by offering a one-stop digital solution that simplifies business operations and promotes financial inclusion.
“The steps being taken to enhance women’s participation in SMEs are commendable,” the Prime Minister said. He directed officials to expand awareness about the initiative so that more women could benefit from it.
The PM was also informed that SMEDA offices have been opened in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, receiving a positive response from local communities and chambers of commerce.
A new board of private sector experts has been formed for SMEDA, while the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer will be finalized soon.
The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over SMEDA’s restructuring and directed that a clear timeline be set for implementation, urging officials to ensure swift execution
The move comes as Pakistan works to boost women’s participation in the economy, where female labor force participation remains below 25 percent which is among the lowest in South Asia.
Despite women making up about half of Pakistan’s population, their participation in entrepreneurship remains extremely low.
A recent diagnostic study by Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Asian Development Bank found that while the female labour-force participation rate stood at 21.4 %, the women entrepreneurs’ share was just 19 %, and only 0.1 % of entrepreneurs were female employers.
The new AI-based platform for women entrepreneurs is therefore probably a timely intervention aimed at closing this gap and unlocking untapped potential in the SME sector.