PM Shehbaz urges banks to boost lending to farmers, SMEs and housing

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed banks and financial institutions to increase lending to farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the housing sector, stressing the need to expand access to finance for key segments of the economy.

The development came during a review meeting held regarding the Access to Finance Plan 2026-28 under the chairmanship of PM Shehbaz.

The Access to Finance Plan 2026–2028 is a government initiative aimed at expanding access to finance for various priority sectors to boost economic growth, exports, and employment.

In the meeting, the prime minister reviewed the ongoing measures related to progress on financing for the Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Program– Ghar Ho To Apna, agriculture, and the SMEs sector, and read a statement.

Speaking during the meeting, the prime minister said that banks and financial institutions should play their role in providing loans to farmers, SMEs, and the housing sector.

“The government will encourage those banks that fully play their role in providing loans,” the PM was quoted as saying, adding that the agricultural sector holds the status of the backbone of the country’s economy, and working for its development is a national responsibility.

The PM directed authorities to ensure farmers’ unhindered and easy access to financial resources.

He further said that providing affordable housing to low-income and middle-class segments is the government’s priority. Provincial Chief Secretaries should conduct a comprehensive survey of such properties for which banks can provide loans to individuals aspiring for homes under the Apna Ghar Program.

The meeting was briefed on measures regarding financing for the housing, agriculture, and SMEs sectors. The briefing revealed that so far, 147,504 applications have been received under the scheme, of which 53,127 applications have been approved.

The total value of approved applications under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Program is Rs313.42 billion, while loans amounting to Rs45.43 billion have been provided to 8,739 applicants.

It was learnt that a system is being developed to identify plots across the country that meet mortgage conditions, with the pilot to be launched from Islamabad.

 It was further stated that to make the Apna Ghar Program more streamlined, an effective mechanism will be devised to involve renowned housing developers in this process.

Moreover, the volume of loans provided by banks for the agricultural sector stood at Rs1.268 trillion in August 2026, while under the Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028, a target of Rs2 trillion rupees has been set by June 2028.

Through the Zarkhez-e app, 35,838 applications have been received for easy loans, for which Rs7.35 billion has been approved, of which loans amounting to Rs1.96 billion rupees have been disbursed.

Till August 2026, the volume of loans provided to the SME sector stood at Rs1.067 trillion, while under the Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028, a target of Rs2 trillion for these loans has been set by June 2028.