Pakistan seeks to enhance the empowerment of women and microenterprises via the SMEDA-PIFD collaboration.
The Government of Pakistan has reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing women’s empowerment and promoting microenterprise development as essential catalysts for sustainable economic growth and export competitiveness.
Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production, made this statement during the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority and the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design, which took place at PIFD Lahore on Friday.
The ceremony was attended by high-ranking authorities, including Aasia Saail Khan, Member of the SMEDA Board, and Ms. Nadia Jahangir Seth, Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA, together with representatives from SMEDA, PIFD, and other stakeholders.
The Memorandum of Understanding was officially executed by Sheharyar Tahir, General Manager of the Gender and Sustainability Division at SMEDA, and Dr. Muhammad Afzal, Registrar of PIFD, signifying the initiation of an institutional framework to enhance collaboration between the business development and design innovation sectors.
Concentrate on economic inclusion
In his keynote talk, SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasised that women-led firms and micro businesses are among the nation’s most precious yet underutilised economic resources.
This MoU is not only an institutional partnership but also a strategic national initiative designed to harness the economic potential of women entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises. He remarked, “By merging SMEDA’s enterprise development expertise with PIFD’s design and innovation capabilities, we are fostering opportunities for enterprises to achieve market readiness, financial viability, and global competitiveness.”
He further underlined that the program aligns with the Prime Minister’s overarching objective of inclusive economic development, innovation promotion, and job creation throughout Pakistan, especially in disadvantaged entrepreneurial sectors.
Structure for development
The agreement agreed on Friday formalises a structured partnership between SMEDA and PIFD aimed at assisting micro and small firms, particularly prioritising women entrepreneurs, home-based workers, and craftsmen.
The collaboration aims to augment product development capabilities, fortify entrepreneurial avenues, and promote value-chain integration, while simultaneously broadening access to domestic and foreign markets.
Within the framework, both universities will investigate the creation of incubation centers, design laboratories, and creative workplaces intended to promote innovation, skill enhancement, and enterprise expansion.
The alliance’s key components encompass capacity building programs, digital enablement initiatives, e-commerce integration, research collaboration, and enhanced industry-academia linkages aimed at fostering sustainable corporate success.
Institutional dedication
Nadia Jahangir Seth, CEO of SMEDA, emphasised the organization’s dedication to assisting under-represented business sectors through systematic initiatives.
SMEDA asserts that the empowerment of women and microenterprises is crucial for inclusive economic advancement. She stated that this relationship with PIFD will offer organised design assistance, business development services, and enhanced market access, allowing firms to improve product quality and competitiveness.
She additionally declared that both organisations will collaboratively execute a three-year national product development support initiative aimed primarily at women and microenterprises, concentrating on enhancing design, branding, and market preparedness.
Connections between academia and industry
Prof. Hina Tayyaba Khalil, Vice Chancellor of PIFD, endorsed the deal, characterising it as a pivotal advancement in augmenting the contribution of academics to national economic growth.
PIFD is honoured to collaborate with SMEDA to integrate design innovation, research, and creativity into the business sector. This collaboration will establish significant connections among students, designers, and entrepreneurs, while augmenting the value and competitiveness of locally manufactured products,” she asserted.
She emphasised that the collaboration would offer students real experience while directly facilitating enterprise-level innovation and product creation.
The ceremony featured a comprehensive presentation on the PIFD Design and E-Commerce Centre, succeeded by an interactive question-and-answer session with participants from both institutions.
A formal exchange of mementos occurred following the signing ceremony, accompanied by a guided tour of the design and innovation facilities of PIFD Lahore. The program ended with a press interaction and a group shot featuring all stakeholders.
The initiative aims to enhance product quality, production efficiency, digital engagement, financial inclusion, and expanded market access for micro and women-led enterprises, while furthering efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s inclusive economic framework.