ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed relevant institutions to accelerate efforts to ensure the provision of bank loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on easy and affordable terms, underscoring the sector’s importance to economic growth and export expansion.
Chairing a meeting focused on the development of the SME sector, the prime minister emphasised that improved access to finance through banks and other financial institutions was essential to unlock the full potential of small and medium businesses. He said that timely and simplified financing mechanisms could help SMEs expand operations, generate employment and contribute more effectively to the national economy.
Mr Sharif praised Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar and the newly elected board of directors of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) for preparing what he described as a practical and effective plan aimed at revitalising the sector. He noted that SMEs form the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and play a critical role in industrial growth, value addition and job creation.
The prime minister highlighted the vast potential of SMEs to boost the country’s exports, stressing that targeted support and policy alignment could help smaller businesses integrate into domestic and international supply chains. He directed authorities to ensure that government initiatives were translated into tangible relief for entrepreneurs at the grassroots level.
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During the meeting, a comprehensive three-year roadmap for the promotion and development of the SME sector was presented. Officials provided a detailed briefing on the key challenges faced by SMEs, including limited access to credit, capacity constraints, regulatory hurdles and lack of market linkages. The plan outlined measures to address these issues through policy reforms, financial facilitation and institutional support.
A three-year roadmap for the promotion of SME sector was presented in the meeting.https://t.co/u7MmvkO7Gi
— Dawn Business (@dawn_business) January 6, 2026
The meeting was also briefed on strategies aimed at increasing the participation of SMEs in Pakistan’s export sector. These included initiatives to improve product quality, compliance with international standards and access to overseas markets. Officials said that enhancing the competitiveness of domestic SMEs was a priority to enable them to contribute meaningfully to export-led growth.
In addition, participants were informed about ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation with various countries to introduce Pakistan’s SME sector to global markets on a competitive basis. These measures include technical collaboration, knowledge sharing and exposure to international best practices.
To build the capacity of local enterprises, the meeting noted that multiple training workshops had recently been organised in six cities across the country. These workshops were aimed at improving managerial skills, financial literacy and production efficiency among SME owners and operators.
The prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting small and medium enterprises through coordinated policy action, improved access to finance and sustained institutional backing, calling for swift implementation of the proposed measures to deliver visible results for the business community.
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