Pakistan’s agriculture sector has outstanding loans of Rs. 1.329 trillion across approximately 3.5 million borrowers, as the government pushes banks and financial institutions to expand lending to farmers.
The figures were reviewed at a meeting of the Access to Finance Steering Committee chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad on October 28.
Under the government’s Zarkhez-e: Asaan Zarai Qarza Scheme, 20,176 loan applications worth Rs. 8.674 billion had been approved. Small farmers had received 6,132 collateral-free loans worth approximately Rs. 2.34 billion.
The meeting also examined ways to improve access to credit for livestock and dairy businesses and encourage private investment across agricultural supply chains.
Aurangzeb called for faster implementation and loan disbursements in the agriculture and small business sectors. He urged financial institutions and relevant government bodies to step up efforts so that more farmers and businesses could access financing.
The committee also reviewed lending to small and medium enterprises, housing finance and electric two- and three-wheelers under the government’s vehicle electrification scheme.
In the SME sector, outstanding financing had reached Rs. 1.148 trillion as of October 23, including Rs. 538 billion for small enterprises.
The meeting further discussed digital credit assessment, data-sharing safeguards and regulatory changes aimed at improving lending to businesses and borrowers with limited access to formal finance.
