SMEDA-JICA project: What’s new for women entrepreneurs in Punjab?    

Lahore: A team of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has begun work on a five-year women support programme being executed by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA).

The initiative, titled “Project for Capacity Enhancement of Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Economic Sector in Pakistan,” marks a significant milestone in SMEDA-JICA collaboration.

SMEDA, in alignment with the Government of Pakistan’s endeavor to enable women-led enterprises to become an integral part of national economic growth, has undertaken several initiatives aimed at improving their financial and digital literacy, providing market access and honing export capabilities.

For starters…

Statistics show that women constitute almost half of Pakistan’s population, yet their labour force participation remains low at 25.4% - with nearly 47 million women outside the workforce. Women-led businesses are also limited in scale, with most operating informally and employing fewer than five individuals.

What’s the latest initiative?  

Officials say the collaborative effort focuses on strengthening SMEDA’s institutional capacity, providing women with pre-incubation and incubation support, improving access to finance and facilitating market linkages.

A key feature of the initiative is the development and implementation of the Women Entrepreneurs Booster Package - a comprehensive support mechanism designed to accelerate business growth and build sustainable entrepreneurship among women in the informal economy, they explain.

According to them, the project will be piloted in Lahore and Sialkot and target 2,000 women entrepreneurs and transgender entrepreneurs. It will prioritize high-potential sectors such as IT, services, textiles, sports goods and surgical instruments, add officials.

Through targeted interventions, SMEDA aims to reduce gender disparity, increase women’s participation in the economy and enable them to contribute to sustainable economic development.

How did it begin?

The agreement was signed by Mr Socrat Aman Rana, the then CEO SMEDA, and Ms. KOMAHASHI Rie, Head of Mission, JICA Pakistan Office on July 3, 2025.

The two organizations emphasized the project's critical role in fostering inclusive economic development by addressing the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in Pakistan’s informal sector.