SMEDA brings MSME support to Pakistan Auto Show 2026

The three-day exhibition is being held from September 18 to 20 at the Expo Centre Lahore. The event has brought together Pakistan’s automotive industry, business leaders and foreign delegates, including representatives from China, to showcase products, explore international markets and pursue new partnerships.

SMEDA’s participation forms part of its efforts to strengthen MSMEs and expand their access to domestic and international business opportunities, in line with the strategic direction of the Ministry of Industries and Production.

Adviser to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan said the government was committed to transforming Pakistan into a competitive manufacturing economy by empowering MSMEs and strengthening industrial value chains. He said Pakistan’s automotive industry had demonstrated resilience and significant potential, while platforms such as the auto show could help promote local manufacturing, innovation and investment.

Khan called for the event to be developed as a major international platform with a strong focus on business-to-business engagement, memoranda of understanding and joint ventures. He also directed SMEDA to provide full support to PAAPAM and facilitate greater participation by MSMEs in the sector.

The government is also working on a new automobile policy. In April, the Ministry of Industries and Production said the policy would place emphasis on localisation of auto parts, including parts that could potentially be manufactured domestically over the next five years.

In June, the ministry said Automobile, Auto Parts and Battery Storage Policies were being developed in line with the Prime Minister’s vision, while efforts were also under way to strengthen local manufacturing and promote exports. MSME platformSMEDA CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth said the automotive sector was among Pakistan’s dynamic industrial segments, with substantial potential for SME-led growth.

She said many MSMEs formed the backbone of the country’s auto parts and engineering industry, adding that the partnership with PAAPAM would provide them with opportunities to showcase their capabilities, build strategic partnerships, adopt modern technologies and explore domestic and international markets.

PAAPAM Convener Salman Saleem welcomed SMEDA’s participation as strategic partner, saying the collaboration would strengthen the exhibition’s objective of showcasing Pakistan’s automotive industry globally. He said SMEDA’s support would enhance SME participation and contribute to efforts promoting indigenous manufacturing under the “Make in Pakistan” vision.

A symposium is scheduled for September 19 on the sidelines of the exhibition. Organisers expect the session to contribute towards developing a roadmap for the sector’s future. The Ministry of Industries and Production has previously said the forthcoming auto policy is intended to strengthen domestic production, promote export-led growth and support local auto-parts manufacturing.