Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed banks to increase agricultural financing and improve access to credit for small farmers as the government targets Rs. 1.5 trillion in farm loans by June 2027.
He issued the directive during a meeting with heads of 10 major commercial banks in Islamabad, where officials reviewed agricultural lending, the Apna Ghar housing finance program, and loans for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
A briefing informed the meeting that agricultural financing had reached Rs. 1,352 billion by the end of September 2026, benefiting 3,455,313 people. The government aims to raise total lending to Rs. 1,500 billion and increase the number of beneficiaries to 4.5 million by June 2027.
Shehbaz said easier access to agricultural credit was necessary to improve farmers’ incomes, raise crop production, and strengthen food security. He stressed that banks should prioritize small farmers and help them adopt modern farming methods to improve productivity.
The meeting was also briefed on progress under the Apna Ghar Program, with banks approving Rs. 426 billion in loans and disbursing Rs. 76 billion. The government aims to arrange Rs. 700 billion in financing during fiscal year 2026-27 to support the construction and delivery of 125,000 housing units.
Shehbaz called for reducing the gap between approved loans and actual disbursements so applicants could receive funds without unnecessary delays. Officials are also consulting on a framework to improve access to financing for property developers.
In the SME sector, around 350,862 business owners have received loans totaling Rs. 1,137 billion. The government wants to increase SME financing to Rs. 1,500 billion and expand the number of beneficiaries to 565,000 by June 2027.
The prime minister said small and medium businesses played a key role in economic activity and job creation, emphasizing the need to improve their access to financing.
Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, and Attaullah Tarar attended the meeting, along with Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani and State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad.
Representatives from the National Bank of Pakistan, United Bank Limited, Habib Bank Limited, Meezan Bank, Bank Alfalah, Standard Chartered, Bank of Punjab, BankIslami, and House Building Finance Corporation also participated, along with other senior officials.
Bank representatives expressed support for the government’s efforts to expand financing in priority sectors and said their cooperation with the government was being strengthened.
