Export-insurance risk pool for SMEs welcomed

Mian Zahid Hussain, president of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, has welcomed a Rs3 billion export-insurance risk pool for small and medium enterprises, backed by the Export Development Fund together with EXIM Bank of Pakistan. According to Business Recorder, he also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for endorsing the scheme and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for his efforts. He said the measures would ease payment risks and improve access to business finance.

The remarks came as merchandise shipments dropped by 5.97 percent, landing at $30.1 billion in FY2025-26, against imports of $69.6 billion. That left the trade deficit 21.57 percent wider at $39.5 billion, partly offset by $41.6 billion in remittances from Pakistanis living overseas. He argued that such dependence makes stronger value addition, broader exporter participation and entry into new markets more urgent.

Financing measures include an Export Finance Scheme envelope lifted by 50 percent to Rs1.5 trillion for FY2026-27, with Rs300 billion reserved for SME exporters, farm-linked SMEs and new borrowers. A Rs350 billion financing line for the Long-Term Export Growth Financing Facility would support machinery purchases and plant upgrades. SME lending climbed 30.5 percent, reaching Rs901.6 billion as of June 2026, and borrowers numbered 318,585 after a 15.18 percent rise.