LAHORE: In a landmark step towards data-driven policymaking, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) formally launched the field operations of the National SME Survey at a special ceremony at the PBS Office in Lahore, coinciding with the Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day.

In his address, Mr Socrat Aman Rana, CEO SMEDA, termed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) backbone of economy, contributing approximately 40pc to the national GDP, 31pcto total exports, and generating nearly 78pc of total employment in Pakistan. He underscored the lack of reliable data had hindered the development of effective SME policies, according to a statement.

He added that SMEDA and PBS had joined hands to conduct the National SME Survey to address the long-standing issue of outdated and fragmented data.

Speaking on the occasion, Naeemuz Zafar, chief statistician PBS, said the survey was designed to cover 12 strategic economic sectors of SMEs. He informed the house that four of these surveys had already been successfully completed, owing to coordination between PBS, SMEDA, and other stakeholders.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2025