ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday instructed relevant authorities to promote the registration of cottage, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) to facilitate their access to business loans and contribute to the country’s industrial advancement.
While presiding over a review meeting focused on the restructuring of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and SME development, he acknowledged the efforts being made to bolster women’s involvement in SMEs and emphasized the need for raising awareness about such initiatives.
He stressed the importance of establishing a clear timeline for implementing SMEDA’s roadmap and ensuring its timely execution. Highlighting the role of cottage SMEs in industrial growth, he referred to examples from developed nations, where these enterprises supply crucial raw materials to larger industries.
The prime minister also recommended organizing training programs for SMEs located in rural areas to help them in processing agricultural commodities more effectively.
Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction with the Ministry of Industries and Production’s work on SMEDA’s restructuring and efforts to advance SME development.
The briefing highlighted significant progress in key areas such as capacity building for SMEs, granting loans, and fostering partnerships, in line with instructions from the Steering Committee.
Particularly notable was the development of an AI-driven Womenpreneurship Platform aimed at providing women with essential business tools and information, including registration processes, tax-related guidance, and skill-enhancement resources.
Additionally, a strategy for integrating SMEs into the formal economy was shared during the session.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Dr. Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, and other senior officials.
