Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce Rana Ihsaan Afzal have met with a delegation from Meta to discuss digital transformation and skill development initiatives. The Meta delegation was led by Asia-Pacific Public Policy Lead Tehara Punchihewa and Policy Programs Manager Vivian Liang. During the meeting, Meta introduced its Small Business Growth Academy, a free capacity-building training program scheduled to run from August to November 2026. Implemented in Pakistan via local partner AtomCamp, the initiative aims to train 1,000 Pakistani small and medium-sized enterprises on AI-powered business tools, digital marketing, and cross-border trade, with a special emphasis on empowering women entrepreneurs and supporting businesses located in smaller cities.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan invited Meta to active partnership in Pakistan as the federal government works on finalizing its national E-Commerce and Artificial Intelligence policies to build economic competitiveness. The discussions centered on several key strategic areas, including the potential of leveraging artificial intelligence for business intelligence and data-driven policymaking, expanding secure online payment mechanisms to facilitate social commerce, and enhancing global market access for Pakistani exporters through modern digital platforms.
The Minister urged Meta to collaborate closely with local chambers of commerce, trade associations, and the Directorate General of Trade Organizations to broaden the program reach. Both parties agreed to establish regular institutional collaboration, with Meta offering technical policy expertise and digital skill programs to support Pakistan’s expanding digital economy and help local entrepreneurs compete globally.
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