COVID 19 shook the whole world. However, unlike many other countries, Pakistan fared much better. Though the already declining economy further deteriorated, not all sectors of the economy were equally hit. While manufacturing, wholesale, retail and supply chain sectors were badly affected, IT industry especially e-commerce and digital payments grew significantly, 300% to 400% in one year. According to a study published by Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries, 80% of businesses that were closed during lockdown resumed operations after 3 to 4 months. Moreover, the pandemic, especially the disrupted mobility imposed by it, provoked many to think out of the box and find solutions to the newly emerged problems. This is how some easy-to-use digital platforms were created during the last one year, which are eventually being used by small medium enterprises. SMEs constitute almost 40% of the country’s GDP and these digital platforms are not only helping them sell their products and process payments online but are also taking us towards an era of documented economy. Right after the emergence of COVID – 19, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics had estimated a loss of 18.5 million jobs in the country by the end of 2020. Though there were many businesses shut down and a number of employees laid off, these new ventures in the form of SMEs have opened up new avenues in Pakistan’s job market.
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