Banks urged to remove SME credit hurdles

The Express Tribune reported on October 22 that Haroon Akhtar Khan, the prime minister’s adviser for industries and production, asked banks and the State Bank of Pakistan to ease financing barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises. He made the appeal during a consultation involving SME representatives, lenders, the central bank and government departments.

Business representatives cited difficulties securing loans and suitable funding for expansion and day-to-day working capital. Khan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had instructed that SME financing be doubled, and called for simpler lending processes and closer coordination so eligible businesses can access funds. The discussion aimed to identify practical obstacles and shape solutions around the needs of business clusters.