PM urges banks to boost loans for Women and SMEs

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed that the commercial banks take steps to ensure access of women entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to easy loans, besides assisting them in exporting their products.

He complimented the roadmap developed by SMEDA and the Ministry of Industries and Production and directed officials to present a definite action plan with specific targets and a clear timeframe for implementation. He also stated that processing in agricultural activities should also be given formal SME status to make it easier for value-added agribusinesses to access policy support and finance.

Officials reported 48 ongoing initiatives across eight strategic sectors under a phased plan, designed to meet growth targets over the next two and four years. These measures involve road shows and exhibitions to increase market access, vendor profiling to enhance value chain development, and developing a national SME database to facilitate documentation and formalisation.

One of the most significant constraints for small companies was addressed with the State Bank and relevant ministries showcasing their work to make bank financing more affordable and accessible. The prime minister welcomed efforts to boost women’s involvement in SMEs and stressed the need for special support to women entrepreneurs as inclusive growth will provide more opportunities for jobs.

He emphasized that by providing agro‑processing with SME status, farmers and processors will connect them to formal finance and markets, improving incomes along rural value chains. SMEs account for nearly 90 percent of businesses in Pakistan and remain a major employer, yet they face chronic problems such as limited credit access, weak supply‑chain integration, and export barriers. This is a renewed drive towards reforms and institutional support for SME financing, as key data from the central bank indicate financing for SMEs is lagging behind regional peers.