SMEDA consults women chambers to boost businesses

LAHORE: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has intensified consultations with women chambers across Pakistan to identify barriers faced by women-owned businesses and improve their access to finance, skills, markets and business support services. The initiative is aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurship and strengthening micro-enterprises as part of efforts to foster inclusive economic growth. The consultation session was chaired by SMEDA Board Member Aasia Saail who called for stronger institutional mechanisms to address the specific needs of women entrepreneurs and make SME support programmes more accessible and responsive. She highlighted the proposed Women Entrepreneurship Portal which would provide women entrepreneurs with business information, support services and opportunities. She also announced plans to establish a comprehensive database of women entrepreneurs to help policymakers and institutions develop targeted programmes and improve access to finance, incentives, training and market linkages. Aasia said the SMEDA was also collaborating with national and international partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD), to provide technical assistance, capacity building and entrepreneurship development support. Representatives of women chambers highlighted challenges faced by women-owned businesses, particularly in accessing finance, markets, business information, skills development and institutional support. The SMEDA officials said the feedback would help the authority develop demand-driven interventions and improve coordination with women’s business organisations to support the growth of women-led enterprises and micro-businesses across the country. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

Read full story on Business Recorder