Govt pushes implementation focus as SME, agri and housing finance rise

According to Mettis Global, the government is emphasising delivery and measurable results in its push to widen credit access. A recent review found that outstanding SME finance had reached over Rs1.137tr, agriculture finance over Rs1.35tr and housing finance Rs426bn by end-September 2026. Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, the Finance Minister, presided over the Access to Finance Steering Committee's fifth session and asked for tighter follow-up on its decisions.

Aurangzeb wants quicker progress toward the government's medium-term target of Rs2tr in SME financing and 775,000 borrowers by June 2028. He said reaching it requires banks and microfinance lenders to act as one ecosystem, and he ordered a focused mechanism to place microfinance institutions on a fairer footing. Farm lending also moved ahead, with 5,563 uncollateralised loans worth Rs2.1bn reaching smallholder farmers under the Zarkhez-e-Asaan Zarai Qarza scheme.

Under the Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Program, Rs76bn has reached 13,214 borrowers, and approved housing loans of Rs350bn are yet to be disbursed. The Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification Scheme has approved 17,262 applications valued at Rs2.54bn, and 2,725 electric vehicles had been delivered by end-September. He also wants state-supported lending to stay commercially viable and avoid long-term dependence on subsidies.