ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) to formulate a comprehensive strategy to provide financial support to small and medium-sized industries and businesses across Pakistan.
The directive was issued at a review meeting chaired by the prime minister on measures being undertaken by Smeda to provide financial assistance and facilities to small and medium-sized industries and businesspeople.
Sharif directed Smeda to ensure that promoting entrepreneurship and providing equal facilities and uniform technical assistance across all parts of the country remain among its foremost institutional objectives.
He also directed that Smeda’s ongoing programme to ensure greater participation of women in small and medium-sized industries and businesses be further expanded.
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The prime minister called for the effective use of digital platforms to help local businesspeople access national and international commercial markets.
He further directed that Smeda’s business promotion strategy should cover the maximum possible number of regions and sectors.
Sharif also instructed Smeda to prepare a strategy with special measures to organise production and commercial linkages for agricultural commodities.
He stressed that equal attention should be given to financial support for businesspeople, enhancement of technical capacity and the provision of facilities.
The meeting was briefed that measures were being taken at every level to strengthen small and medium-sized industries and support businesspeople.
It was also informed that work was under way on international best practices to increase exports of industrial products linked to small businesses and improve their access to global markets.
According to the briefing, Smeda is working on an integrated and comprehensive strategy in collaboration with various relevant institutions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Law Minister Azam Tarar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, State Minister for Finance Bilal Kayani, the adviser to the prime minister on industries and production Haroon Akhtar, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood, and officials of the relevant government departments attended the meeting.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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