SMEDA, PM Youth Programme join hands to expand MSME financing access

Mettis Global reported that the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Prime Minister's Youth Programme (PMYP) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at widening the reach of financing and business support for MSMEs and young entrepreneurs. The signing took place in the presence of Haroon Akhtar Khan, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, and PMYP Chairman Rana Mashood Khan. The two bodies will pool outreach channels, expertise and online tools to broaden access to the Prime Minister's Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme, with a focus on underserved areas and women entrepreneurs.

Under the arrangement, SMEDA will run training sessions on the loan scheme's eligibility rules, paperwork and application steps, while also backing financial literacy work and promoting formal financing through partner banks. Provincial offices and Help Desks will carry out targeted outreach, offering tools such as pre-feasibility studies and business plan templates. PMYP will share scheme details and SMEDA content via its social platforms and the Digital Youth Hub, and the two organizations will exchange data on declined loan requests to identify gaps.

Haroon Akhtar Khan said the partnership would help link financing opportunities with potential beneficiaries. It is further tied to SMEDA's Business Plan goal of financial literacy for 92,480 MSMEs. Designated focal teams and quarterly review meetings will track progress.