Overview
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday ordered officials to improve access to loans for small and medium enterprises to boost exports and entrepreneurship.
- He directed SMEDA, the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks to prepare a coordinated, comprehensive strategy to expand SME lending and remove barriers to credit.
- The government urged commercial banks to design specialised lending products and called for easy credit and facilitation for farmers to set up processing units, with SMEDA to help firms prepare feasibility studies.
- Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar inaugurated SMEDA’s new headquarters in Islamabad as the authority is given a bigger role in delivering training, technical assistance and market access support for SMEs.
- Central bank plans and government steps aim to increase SME financing and borrowers over the next two years, a shift that could raise production, create jobs and widen export opportunities if banks follow through.