Meta, SBP join forces to empower women

Joint effort seeks to provide training, access to resources, networking opportunities

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has partnered with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to launch an initiative aimed at digitally empowering 500 women entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The joint effort seeks to provide training, access to resources, and networking opportunities to enhance their digital presence and capabilities.

The initiative titled ‘The Digital Bridge: Advancing Financial Inclusion for Pakistan’ was unveiled during a prestigious launching ceremony held in Karachi earlier this week.

Attended by officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as well as prominent members of the telecommunication, banking, and business communities, the event signalled a strong commitment to supporting women's economic empowerment.

To select participants for the programme, Meta will be partnering with consulting agency Demo, which will choose individuals from Pakistan's export-oriented chambers, as well as from the pool of small business owners who took part in the initial phase of the SheMeansBusiness curriculum in the country.

SheMeansBusiness, initially launched by Meta in 2018, has already provided training to over 30,000 women across 51 cities, including those in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

The newly selected participants will be equipped with essential tools and techniques necessary to thrive in the competitive online landscape and expand their businesses.

Sima Kamil, deputy governor of SBP, emphasised the pivotal role of small businesses in driving the country's economy and expressed pleasure in supporting Meta's initiative to empower more women entrepreneurs and small businesses in Pakistan.

Sima also expressed hope that the knowledge gained through the programme would enable participants to tap into export markets successfully.

Beth Ann Lim, Meta's director of policy programmes, reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to supporting Pakistan's economic growth by empowering small business owners, particularly women entrepreneurs, through digital upskilling and the development of revenue streams.

She expressed gratitude for the collaboration with the SBP, the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF), and Demo, expressing optimism in working together to unlock the potential of women-owned businesses and foster a more equitable society.

Riaz Chunara, managing director of NIBAF, praised the initiative, highlighting the importance of equipping small businesses with the necessary tools and techniques to leverage the digital space effectively.

He stressed that this support would not only enhance their reach within Pakistan but also provide the impetus needed to expand beyond national borders.