Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the relevant institutions to expedite measures for providing loans to small and medium enterprises on easy terms through banks and other financial institutions. Chairing a meeting regarding Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) here at the PM House, the prime minister commended Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar […]
SME’s
ADR drops to 35pc as banks shift sharply to investments
Pakistan’s banking sector has witnessed a sharp shift away from private-sector lending, with the advances-to-deposits ratio (ADR) falling to just 35 per cent by June 2025, while the investments-to-deposits ratio (IDR) climbed to 100 per cent, according to a new report. Read More: SECP to introduce an alternate dispute resolution mechanism The findings are contained […]
Allied Bank promotes warehouse financing solution for agricultural businesses
Allied Bank Limited (ABL) has concluded a series of awareness activities to promote its Warehouse Facility, a financing solution designed to help agricultural businesses overcome long-standing barriers to credit access. The facility allows millers, traders, farmers, and agri-enterprises to obtain working capital against their stored stock rather than traditional collateral such as land or property. […]
Govt pushes banking support to empower women entrepreneurs
ISLAMABAD: The government is seeking supportive banking policies to empower women entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Pakistan, said Haroon Akhtar Khan, special assistant to the prime minister on industry, on Wednesday. He spoke at the International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day ceremony, organised by FPCCI and Smeda, where representatives from 16 women’s chambers of […]
Faysal Bank, Tapsys team up to deliver digital services to SMEs
Faysal Bank Limited (FBL), one of Pakistan’s leading Islamic banks, has entered into a strategic partnership with Tapsys Private Limited (Tapsys), a leading technology solutions provider, to deliver cutting-edge digital services for SMEs. The strategic alliance will focus on providing a comprehensive suite of digital and Shariah-compliant acceptance solutions, at par with global standards, to […]
Pakistan’s e-commerce grows to $7.7bn in 2024, SMEs face key challenges
Pakistan’s e-commerce sector reached a valuation of $7.7 billion in 2024, with retail e-commerce contributing $5.4 billion. Despite a forecasted annual growth rate of 17%, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face challenges in tapping into the global market. These obstacles include unreliable internet, digital payment issues, and a lack of consumer trust. While digital payment […]
HEC signs MoU with five universities in collaboration with SMEDA
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Higher Education Commission (HEC) and five Universities for National Idea Lab initiative pilot phase was held at HEC Secretariat on Tuesday. The universities include National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad, National Textile University (NTU) Faisalabad, Institute of Management […]
Government focuses on economic growth, employment
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has focused on increasing the labour force participation rate, especially the female, job creation and promoting decent work. According to the Annual development Plan 2021-22, around 25 percent funds are envisaged to be kept for female entrepreneurs under the Prime Minister’s Kamyab SME lending programme. The 2nd phase of China Pakistan […]
State of SMEs in Pakistan
SMEs play key role in reshaping national growth strategies, employment generation and social cohesion by improving standard of living of most vulnerable segment of the society. In most countries, SMEs constitute more than 90% of all enterprises and significantly contribute towards economic growth. SMEs contribute to development in multiple ways; creating employment for an expanding […]
LCCI making policy advocacy before budget
LAHORE: President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mian Tariq Misbah remained extensively engaged with various policymakers in Islamabad in order to make policy advocacy to convey viewpoint of the business community before budget. The purpose of these interactions was to have favourable policies for facilitating trade and industry to the maximum extent. […]