With fuel prices putting more pressure on businesses, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked SMEDA to work on a bigger support package for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including more financial and technical assistance.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to formulate a comprehensive strategy to provide financial and technical support to small and medium enterprises and businesspersons across Pakistan.
The directive was issued during a review meeting in Islamabad on SMEDA’s initiatives for providing financial assistance and other facilities to small and medium enterprises and businesspersons.
The prime minister said business promotion, equal facilities and uniform technical assistance across all regions should remain key objectives of SMEDA’s strategy. He also directed the authority to expand its programs to increase women’s participation in small and medium enterprises and businesses.
Shehbaz said digital platforms should be used effectively to help local businesspersons access national and international markets. He also directed SMEDA to include the maximum number of regions and sectors in its business promotion strategy.
The prime minister further called for special measures to strengthen production and trade linkages for agricultural commodities. He said equal attention should be given to financial assistance, technical capacity and facilities for businesspersons.
The meeting was informed that SMEDA was working with relevant institutions on an integrated strategy to strengthen small and medium enterprises and support businesspersons. Work is also underway to increase exports of industrial products linked to small businesses and improve their access to international markets.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Trade Haroon Akhtar, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan and officials from relevant government institutions.
