PM directs SMEDA to formulate strategy for financial assistance to SMEs

September 17, 2026 (MLN): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) on Wednesday to draw up a comprehensive strategy for extending financial assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and businesspersons nationwide, with a focus on building their professional capacity and easing their access to global markets.

The directive came during a review meeting chaired by the prime minister to assess ongoing initiatives under SMEDA's supervision aimed at providing financial support and facilities to small and medium-sized industries and entrepreneurs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Commerce Haroon Akhtar, Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, and officials of the relevant government institutions attended the meeting, APP reported.

The premier instructed that promoting entrepreneurship and ensuring equal facilities and uniform technical support across all regions of the country be made a top institutional priority for SMEDA.

He called for the expansion of SMEDA's ongoing programme to boost women's participation in small and medium-sized industries and businesses, and directed that digital platforms be put to effective use in connecting local entrepreneurs with national and international commercial markets.

The prime minister maintained that SMEDA's strategy for promoting businesses should extend to the maximum possible number of regions and sectors, and instructed the authority to devise special measures for organizing production and commercial linkages for agricultural commodities.

He further stressed that financial support, technical capacity-building, and provision of facilities for entrepreneurs should all receive equal attention.

The meeting was briefed that measures were being taken at all levels to strengthen small and medium-sized industries and support entrepreneurs, and that efforts were underway, in line with international best practices, to boost exports of industrial products linked to small businesses and improve their access to global markets.

Participants were also informed that SMEDA, working with various relevant institutions, was developing an integrated and comprehensive strategy for the sector.

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