Pakistan celebrated a milestone in its small and medium enterprise (SME) sector with the launch of the first national cluster-based exhibition, “Made in Pakistan – SME Cluster Showcase Expo 2026,” in Lahore.
The three-day expo, organised by SMEDA under the Ministry of Industries and Production, features cluster pavilions, exhibitor stalls, business matchmaking, technical sessions, policy dialogues, and an SME Awards Ceremony.
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Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries Haroon Akhtar Khan inaugurated the event, calling it Pakistan’s flagship platform to highlight the diversity, strength, and export potential of SME clusters nationwide.
He emphasised that the initiative introduces cluster-based and data-driven SME development aligned with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s economic vision, linking MSMEs with investment opportunities and institutional support.
Clusters from across the country, including Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, are participating after selection through chambers of commerce, trade organisations, and industry bodies, while a dedicated pavilion hosts women entrepreneurs and microenterprises.
Foreign delegates from Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Kenya, Russia, and Bangladesh are attending, providing an international dimension to the event and creating potential avenues for export expansion and cross-border collaboration.
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SMEDA CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth described the expo as a defining moment for MSMEs, showcasing value-added products ranging from textiles, handicrafts, and sports goods to furniture, surgical instruments, marble, granite, and light engineering.
She highlighted SMEDA’s three-year plan, focusing on making MSMEs bankable, promoting digital literacy, supporting women entrepreneurs, encouraging subcontracting, and developing climate-resilient enterprises for sustainable growth.
The opening ceremony included a symposium on SME development challenges and policy solutions, followed by panel discussions on the financial ecosystem, digital finance, industry-academia linkages, and the Banana Fiber FAO Project inception workshop.
Sponsors including Habib Bank Limited, Bank Al Habib, Bank of Punjab, and Pak Suzuki Motors reaffirmed support, emphasising public-private collaboration to enhance SME marketing capabilities and strengthen Pakistan’s economic competitiveness.