Govt. to unlock potential of women, microenterprises: Haroon Akhtar

Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan said on Friday that government has firmed commitment to empowering women and microenterprises as a central pillar of sustainable economic growth and export enhancement.
He was addressing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD), held here at PIFD. The ceremony was attended by senior officials including, Ms. Aasia Saail Khan, Member SMEDA Board; and Ms. Nadia Jahangir Seth, Chief Executive Officer SMEDA, along with representatives from SMEDA, PIFD, and other stakeholders.
Earlier, the MoU was signed by Mr Sheharyar Tahir, General Manager Gender & Sustainability Division of SMEDA and Registrar PIFD Dr. Muhammad Afzal.
In his address, the SAPM emphasized that women-led microenterprises represent one of Pakistan’s most significant yet underutilized economic resources. “This MoU is not merely an institutional collaboration but a strategic national intervention aimed at unlocking the economic potential of women entrepreneurs and micro-businesses. By integrating SMEDA’s enterprise development expertise with PIFD’s design and innovation capabilities, we are creating opportunities for enterprises to become market-ready, financially viable, and globally competitive,” he stated.
He further highlighted that the initiative aligns with the vision of Prime Minister to promote inclusive economic development, innovation, and employment generation across the country.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between SMEDA and Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD) to support micro and small enterprises, with a particular focus on women entrepreneurs, home-based workers, and artisans. The partnership will promote product development, entrepreneurship, and value-chain integration, while facilitating access to national and international markets.
Under this collaboration, both institutions will explore the development of incubation centers, design labs, and creative workspaces dedicated to fostering innovation and enterprise growth. The initiative will also include capacity building, digital enablement, e-commerce integration, research collaboration, and industry-academia linkages.
Ms. Nadia Jahangir Seth, CEO SMEDA, highlighted that the partnership reflects SMEDA’s continued commitment to supporting underserved enterprise segments.
“At SMEDA, we believe that empowering women and microenterprises is essential for inclusive economic progress. This collaboration with PIFD will provide structured design support, business development services, and improved market access, enabling enterprises to enhance product quality and competitiveness,” she remarked.
She further shared that both institutions will jointly implement a ‘Three-Year National Product Development Support Programme’ focusing on women and microenterprises.
Prof. Hina Tayyaba Khalil, Vice Chancellor of PIFD, welcomed the collaboration and termed it a milestone in strengthening academia’s role in economic development.
“PIFD is proud to partner with SMEDA to bring design innovation, research, and creativity into the enterprise sector. This collaboration will create meaningful linkages between students, designers, and entrepreneurs, while enhancing the value and competitiveness of locally produced goods,” she stated.
She said the collaboration is expected to significantly improve product quality, production efficiency, digital participation, financial inclusion, and market access for micro and women-led enterprises, contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan.
The ceremony featured a comprehensive program including a presentation on the PIFD Design and E-Commerce Centre, a question-and-answer session, the formal MoU signing, exchange of souvenirs, and a visit to the design facilities.