SMEDA assures stakeholders of intensifying collaboration

ISLAMABAD: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has assured the stakeholders of intensifying collaboration with provincial governments, the Pakistan Banks Association, and other partners to facilitate Small and Medium Enterprises’ access to credit for business growth This was stated by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) SMEDA, Nadia Jahangir Seth, in a briefing to the participants of a meeting on SME financing, held here under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on industries and production, Haroon Akhtar Khan. During the meeting, the CEO of SMEDA highlighted the role of SMEDA in promoting access to finance, which is an important pillar of its business plan, expressing resolve to expedite efforts to improve the SME finance ecosystem. Haroon Akhtar called for a coordinated national effort to significantly enhance access to finance for SMEs and emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among federal and provincial governments, financial institutions, and development stakeholders. He directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to lead efforts in building partnerships that accelerate credit access for SMEs across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. “The SMEDA must play a proactive role in engaging stakeholders and facilitating linkages that enable entrepreneurs to access financing and scale their businesses,” he said. “It should form a working group to synchronize efforts through training and connectivity,” he added. Lauding the Punjab government’s initiatives under the Asaan Karobar finance scheme, he asked other provinces to replicate the financing model and increase the number of beneficiaries in the country. He said other banks were doing a commendable job by providing finance to SMEs through various mechanisms. Earlier, the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) gave a presentation on CM Punjab’s Asaan Karobar finance scheme under which a record Rs100 billion has been disbursed among entrepreneurs in less than one year. Officials said the scheme, which has been launched through the Bank of Punjab, had proved a success. They said more than 110,000 people were beneficiaries, and almost 50 percent of borrowers were from low-income groups. A representative of the State Bank of Pakistan provided an overview of the current financing landscape, noting progress in some regions while highlighting gaps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He underscored the need for targeted interventions to expand financial inclusion in these areas. He said Sindh Bank had a portfolio of Rs 10 billion in SME financing, but unfortunately, there was no significant scheme in KP and Balochistan. He said the Bank of the Philippines and Bangladesh have commended Pakistan’s SME financing facilities and expressed a desire to study the models and replicate them in their countries. Bank of Punjab senior officer Asif Riaz suggested that SMEDA should join the SME Forum to participate in collaborative efforts. Representatives of provincial governments, Sindh Bank, Bank of Khyber, National Bank of Pakistan, HBL, and other stakeholders were also present. The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to fast-track joint initiatives, strengthen institutional coordination and create a more inclusive and accessible financing ecosystem for SMEs across Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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