The Punjab government has initiated a new action plan for the development of small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the province. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that the measures had been taken to accelerate the pace of export activities.
Under this action plan, new industrial estates would be set up in Gujranwala and Narowal districts. Over 1,000 acres of land on Kamoki-Eminabad road near Gujranwala has been selected for this purpose.
In order to bring industrial revolution in the province, the provincial government would provide all modern facilities to investors for setting up new industries, sources said. The government has allocated Rs 8 billion for extending loan facility to the SMEs and newcomers for upgrading and setting up their industrial units in the province.
In addition to this, special attention had been focused on the "women entrepreneurship" and a number of steps had already been taken for facilitating the businesswomen in the Punjab. The government will provide all facilities including financial assistance to the willing individuals for manufacturing non-traditional products.
Apart from this, the government is also catering loan facilities for the advancement and expansion of agro-based industries, dairy development, and engineering and information technology in the province. The government is making hectic efforts and mobilising all available resources for motivating and attracting Overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors to invest in export processing zones especially in Sialkot and Gujranwala.