The federal government has stepped up efforts to expand affordable financing across Pakistan, launching a dedicated steering committee to accelerate lending to SMEs, farmers, IT businesses, exporters, renewable energy projects, and homebuyers.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the inaugural meeting of the Access to Finance Steering Committee, established to oversee the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Access to Finance Plan 2026-28 and remove policy and operational hurdles slowing credit growth.
The committee reviewed the overall implementation roadmap, governance structure, and performance targets designed to improve financial inclusion and increase the availability of affordable credit for priority sectors.
Members also assessed progress on the government’s flagship financing initiatives, including Zarkhez-e (Asaan Zarai Qarza) for agriculture, the Apna Ghar Scheme for housing, and the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) programme, which promotes financing for electric bikes and e-rickshaws. The review covered application volumes, approvals, loan disbursements, and key implementation challenges.
To improve oversight, the committee proposed a three-tier monitoring system comprising monthly progress reports to the Prime Minister, fortnightly reviews by the Steering Committee, and weekly meetings of sector-specific sub-committees. It also discussed introducing Resolution Target Dates (RTDs), an escalation mechanism, and a central performance dashboard to track progress and ensure accountability.
Aurangzeb said the Steering Committee would coordinate regulators, banks, and implementing agencies to speed up decision-making, resolve cross-sector issues, and keep reforms on track. He stressed that the focus should remain on delivering measurable outcomes rather than simply completing processes.
The meeting also reviewed reforms aimed at expanding SME financing, including improved credit-scoring models, the development of an Open Banking Framework and an SME Digital Portal, integration with credit bureaus, and measures to improve financing across key business value chains.
