The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has launched an AI-powered legal and compliance support platform designed to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Pakistan. Developed in collaboration with PakLawAssist, the country’s first AI-based legal automation platform, the initiative aims to simplify the legal and compliance challenges that SMEs often face, providing them with cost-effective, instant access to legal resources. The launch marks a significant move in the government’s broader effort to enhance ease of doing business and strengthen digital enablement within the SME sector.
SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Socrat Aman Rana stated that the project aligns with the SME development vision of the Prime Minister and is being implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP). He emphasized that this initiative forms part of SMEDA’s mission to improve business facilitation for micro, small, and medium enterprises. By introducing this AI-driven solution, SMEDA aims to empower business owners to manage legal and regulatory obligations more efficiently. According to Rana, the integration of technology into legal services is essential to reducing the compliance burden faced by SMEs, particularly those without access to dedicated legal teams. The partnership with PakLawAssist, he added, represents an important milestone in providing accessible and affordable legal solutions at scale.
The AI platform allows entrepreneurs to obtain legal guidance on a wide range of business matters through an interactive chatbot available around the clock. It offers instant support for questions related to contracts, employment laws, intellectual property, taxation, and other areas critical to business operations. One of the platform’s key features is its document automation capability, which enables users to draft standard legal agreements such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), employment contracts, and service agreements within minutes. By using natural language processing and legal templates tailored for Pakistan’s regulatory environment, SMEs can generate error-free documents without the need for manual legal drafting or external consultancy. This functionality not only saves time and costs but also improves compliance consistency among small businesses.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed SMEDA’s move as a timely and practical measure to address the long-standing legal support gap within Pakistan’s SME ecosystem. Many business owners have historically faced delays, high legal costs, and limited access to professional guidance, especially in rural and semi-urban regions. Through the AI-powered PakLawAssist platform, SMEs can now access standardized, transparent, and reliable legal support remotely. Business chambers and trade associations have also commended SMEDA’s approach for fostering trust and promoting self-reliance among entrepreneurs, while ensuring greater accountability in business processes.
The platform’s launch is another example of how Pakistan’s public sector is adopting artificial intelligence to drive innovation and improve governance. It reflects the growing recognition that digital transformation and automation can play a vital role in empowering small businesses — the backbone of the country’s economy. By combining technology with policy-driven initiatives, SMEDA and PakLawAssist aim to build a more inclusive business ecosystem that supports the sustainable growth of SMEs and contributes to Pakistan’s broader digital economy goals.
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