Lahore: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) have formalized a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing evidence-based policy formulation to support the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. This agreement was signed at DataFest 2025 by Ms. Nadia J. Seth, CEO of SMEDA, and Muhammad Sarwar Gondal, Member of PBS.

The collaboration is set to align with the SME development vision championed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, with oversight from SAPM Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan and Secretary MoIP Mr. Saif Anjum. The focus is on employment generation, industrial development, and export promotion through data-driven initiatives.

Key components of the MoU include the exchange of aggregate data, enhanced research collaboration, and joint studies to better assess the SME sector's role in employment and economic productivity. The agreement also outlines plans for capacity-building activities, including training sessions and workshops, to support informed decision-making in SME development.

The ongoing PBS DataFest 2025, which hosts this collaboration, explores themes from the Uraan Pakistan Program, such as creating a data ecosystem for growth and investment. The partnership between SMEDA and PBS is anticipated to bolster strategic efforts toward more targeted policy interventions and business support programs for SMEs across Pakistan.